We were pleased to see that Newton County has approved a new purchasing policy.

This should clear up some of the confusion that has caused some dissatisfaction with recent bidding.

We also applaud the emphasis on purchasing from local vendors; we hope there are enough local vendors that are qualified to meet the county’s needs.

If not, the county should not buy local at any cost. It is the role of county government to get the best value for local taxpayers. The burden of ensuring that county business stays in the county rests on the shoulders of local merchants.

Shopping local is the right way to go, but not at any cost.