Washington Federation of State Employees v. Spokane Community College

The dispositive question here is whether a governmental agency which is expanding its facilities may contract with an independent contractor to provide services in those facilities which are customarily done by civil servants, where there is no showing the services could not be done by civil servants and where the sole reason for entering into the contract relationship is an anticipated savings in cost. The court below, interpreting the relevant civil service statutes, held there was no bar to such a contract and approved the contract at issue here. We reverse.

In April 1976, the Washington…