BOISE -- The Boise City Council amended an ordinance Tuesday night to allow contracts to be awarded to local companies, even if they're not the lowest bidder.

Under previous law, contracts had to be awarded to the lowest bidder.
People we talked to say.. it makes sense to buy local whenever possible.

The change would permit the city to award contracts locally even if they're not the low bid.

One city leader says Boise should have the same choice as consumers -- to buy locally whenever appropriate.

Council member David Eberle says his proposal would mostly apply to bids on construction contracts for things like branch libraries.

"What that does is keep some of those tax dollars in the city, which will give it a multiplier effect," said Eberle.

But economic experts say there can be a downside for taxpayers.

"If you buy local when you could buy cheap out of state, then you've got to pay more," said Don Holley, dean of Boise State Economics Department. "Government has to pay more, and that means we pay more in taxes."

But Eberle says the change would only provide an option and the city would evaluate each contract competitively.