Thursday, June 17, 2010

The Grand Jury's Big Flub

I can't understand why people don't admit it when they're wrong. Especially when it's obvious to everybody that they're wrong.

Morning Report: The Grand Jury's Big Flub
Jun 17, 2010
Voice of San Diego

It's a pretty stunning number: $679 million.

According to the San Diego County Grand Jury, that's how much the county has saved through outsourcing, managed competition and other cost-cutting strategies. A grand jury report implies that the savings came over 16 months in 2007 and 2008.

The Union-Tribune adapted the statistic in an editorial bashing the city for failing to more fully embrace outsourcing.

But there's a problem with using that number for the 16-month period: It's just plain wrong.

As we show in our latest Fact Check post, the savings actually refers to the period from 1998 to 2008.

The grand jury's forewoman responded to us with this head-scratcher: "I stand by what was written in the report. I have no response to give you, to correct or deny."

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