The city controller said Pittsburgh Public Schools could save millions of dollars by changing the way it hands out contracts. She shared her recommendations in a new report.

The district is facing a nearly $26 million budget deficit next year, and Pittsburgh City Controller Rachael Heisler, who also serves as the school district's controller, believes that could be addressed by enacting new standards when hiring for professional services.

"Are we maximizing every dollar? And the answer right now is no," Heisler said. "We are not going to the public and searching for the best vendors."

According to her report, the district is losing out on millions by not always going through a competitive bidding process when handing out contracts for professional services, something already done by Phi

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