How much profit did Harris make on Fresno Unified buildings?
To all appearances, Fresno Unified School District was not being controlled by a majority of the trustees. It seems somehow to be controlled by Superintendent Michael Hanson, with the majority of the trustees for one reason or another, in lock step, willing to give the superintendent almost anything he wanted.
Supt. Hanson and Harris Construction Co. apparently have had a close relationship. Who might have proposed the no-bid arrangement is unknown.
Most of the trustees went along with the no-bid practice, few questions asked. Harris was evidently able to quote any price it wanted, knowing there would be no other bidders and being reasonably sure that the trustees would OK the price.
Who knows how much profit Harris and its owner have made at taxpayers’ expense. It is interesting to see the full-page ads that Harris Construction has recently been running.
Harold Libby, Fresno
This story was originally published November 8, 2015 at 6:21 AM with the headline "How much profit did Harris make on Fresno Unified buildings?."