Because we get absolutley no value for money what so ever for our tax pennies.
I know for a FACT, that certain departments within the Government have made payment on CREDIT notes! I know because Ive sent them! Its a refund from a supplier as they had overbilled, and the people at the other end simply saw the figure and wrote a cheque.
If that is how much attention is paid to credit notes, I can just imagine the scrutiny they subject a roadworks invoice to.
Ive been in florida and seen them start the resurfacing of a section of the 192 highway at about 8pm at night, and the next morning (10am) when travelling to Disney, they had resurfaced about 5 miles of the thing, and all that remained was a few guys planting shrubs in the central reservation.
Our workforce wouldnt have got past the first round of coffee and staring at a pair of Bristols in the Daily Star, but they would have already invoiced the Taxpayer for about twice as much no doubt.