State weighs more private contracts for services in cost-savings measure

A decision is due by October on whether to roughly double the amount of central state-government printing that is farmed out to private companies.

That will follow other potential boons to the private sector this summer, when state officials are to decide if companies should be tapped to replace public employees as Web designers and as couriers for state mail.

It’s all part of the authority lawmakers gave the governor last year to put back-office work out to bid in search of cost savings. The targeted work at the state printer alone accounts for more than $8 million in spending on bulk printing of forms, business cards, stationery and other big orders, plus storage and delivery of printed materials.