That will just increase the market value of competent people. Not only will they be needed for new projects, they'll also be needed to fix the messes left behind by their predecessors. Also, it might teach the people doing the hiring that competence doesn't come cheap.

I know of many 'unteachable'. I know of cases where one incompetent have been replaced by another incompetent who have been replaced by another incompetent ....

The issue is that, in many places, if you budget the 'price' of an incompetent, you will be rated as a failing manager if you come back and ask for a budget revision so you can pay a competent.

Also, I know of cases where, to hire a competent, the manager would have to pay more than he makes.

Erik

PS an anecdote: I quoted a consulting job and was told "that is way too much, we have a much lower quote". I replied "OK, but my rate for cleaning up messes is twice my rate for doing the job". Oh boy did they whine when they had to pay double rate.