ROCKFORD (WIFR) - The council is expected to vote on an outsourcing vendor's contract. Employees with Madison-based Baker Tilly may soon come to Rockford to determine what departments need to be taken over by private contractors. The first phase will cost about $20,000. The county will pay a portion of that. City leaders say it may be one of the only options left.
"It's a heart-wrencher. I don't want to see anyone lose their job or be forced to take a job that doesn't provide benefits or a low level of pay, but Rockford can't continue to operate its services at the cost level it currently does," says Alderman Venita Hervey.
The city is looking at outsourcing everything from ambulance services to street sweeping.