(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)
June 27, 2022 - 5:09 PM
The City of Vernon is going to spend $3.1 million on a new computer system. The steep price tag also comes with an annual $600,000 per year for maintenance.
City councillors voted unanimously to spend the cash on the new financial system at its meeting today, June 27.
The new system will replace the decades-old systems the city currently uses for human resources and its finance department.
"The City needs a contemporary, long-term, integrated software solution that is innovative, user-friendly, mobile, secure, and that offers effective and efficient tools," a report to council reads. "The proposed solution will be the backbone of our finance, human resource and capital systems for decades to come."
The city currently uses four computer systems, some dating back decades, that all work independently from each other and spreadsheets are then used to transfer information from one program to another.
"It's a big price tag but if it does everything the report says it does there should be some cost savings and certainly some efficiencies," councillor Kelly Fehr told the meeting.
"I see an annual cost of $600,000 and I'd really like to know where the efficiencies are?" Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming asked staff. "Is that six staff that we don't need?"
The council heard the new computer system wouldn't put anyone out of a job.
Director of financial services Debra Law said the system would take away many hidden costs.
"It will mean not hiring more people in the future," she said. "Small savings, will be realized in the future."
There was no time frame given for when the new system will be in place, but the annual service costs won't come into place until next year.
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