When the Corvallis Police Department bought four Dodge Charger patrol cars for $144,500 recently, a business in Salem collected most of the check. At least one local dealer would have liked the opportunity to compete for that money.

"I think the local people pay the taxes in the city, and I think the city should support them," said Dick Wilson of Wilson Motors.

In fact, the city and Mayor Charlie Tomlinson have worked hard to push a "Buy Local" campaign to keep dollars circulating in the community.

So when the dealership contacted Corvallis City Manager Jon Nelson about the transaction, it was not the first local business to approach Nelson about how the city purchases goods and services. Now, a proposed change to purchasing procedures would make it easier for the city to buy products and services from local vendors. Under the proposed change, city departments would check with local businesses in addition to considering state contracts.

The state of Oregon makes purchasing agreements, which it acquires by bid, available to local governments. According to Nelson, the city's current procedures require departments to use the state agreements for any purchase more than $25,000, or go through a request for proposal (RFP) process.

RFPs can be "substantial work" to complete, Nelson said, and it's easier to use the state agreements.

"So you're balancing that work with the other piece - which on its face is appropriate - which is letting local vendors apply for the service or purchase," Nelson said.

Wilson said his business is sometimes able to beat the state's prices.

"I do think there's benefits to them - to the city - for buying local," he said.

Nelson agrees.

"(The proposal) is consistent with some of the local sustainability issues as well," he said.

The change needs to be approved by the City Council, which Nelson expects to happen at the Monday meeting.

The police department plans to buy four more Charger patrol cars later this year. If the proposal is approved, the department would check locally before making the purchase.

Northwest Graphics in Corvallis placed the CPD logo and other department graphics on the cars that have already been purchased, for about $400 each.