Politics
Frankston Mayor Updates Procurement Ordinance, Redirecting Council Contracts to City-Based Firms
The revised ordinance requires the council to direct more than half its annual service spending to businesses located inside Frankston starting with the August tender round.
How we reported this
The Frankston mayor signed a revised procurement ordinance on July 7 that sets a 55 percent target for council contracts awarded to firms based inside city boundaries. The measure applies to maintenance, construction and professional services valued above $50,000 and takes effect with the next round of bids in August.
The change follows the release of the council's mid-year budget review, which showed external contractors still receiving the majority of the $4.2 million spent each year on outside services. Policy analysts note that similar local-preference rules already operate in several other municipal budgets.
Effects on resident businesses and daily services
Owners of Frankston plumbing, electrical and landscaping companies will now receive priority scoring when they submit bids for city hall repairs and park upkeep. A local electrical contractor, for instance, could compete for the annual street-light maintenance contract that previously went to a firm based outside the city limits.
Residents who rely on these services may notice shorter travel times for crews and quicker scheduling because suppliers already operate from addresses inside Frankston. The ordinance also requires quarterly public reports listing the share of spending that stayed local.
Next steps and budget tracking
City staff will publish updated bid documents on the council website by July 22. The first contracts under the new scoring system are scheduled for award in September. The legislation states that the 55 percent target will be reviewed after twelve months using figures drawn from the 2026 budget papers.
Local advocates note that the ordinance does not change total spending levels, only the geographic distribution of existing contract dollars. Residents can submit comments on the draft implementation guidelines through the council's online portal until July 18.