According to city information, the city spent around $49 million prior to enactment of the consent decree, and spent $87 million on consent decree work between 2015 and 2019. Between 2020 and 2023, the city spent $64.1 million on consent decree work. “Our focus is going to be on nationally-recognized big firms that have done multiple consent decree program management activities in the past, or current,” Mittge told the board. COST SAVINGS, ‘CREATIVITY’In response to a board question, Mittge said it’s difficult to estimate the cost to retain an engineering firm for consent decree management. “I advocated for this approach as a board member and I believe this offers the best chance for maximizing the efficiency of the ongoing consent decree work in Fort Smith.”