Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505260050
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Pulaski Town Council approved a contract Thursday with Specialized Data Systems of Greenville, N.C., for both the hardware and software.
"We're shooting for the first or second week in July to have part of this system up and going," said Town Manager Tom Combiths. "We're going to see a big increase in our efficiency."
Town taxpayers, utilities customers and others dealing with municipal agencies will see it, too, according to Finance Director Max Beyer.
As agencies are linked by computer between now and November, he said, citizens will be able to get all the information they need on their accounts without having to run from one office to another. There also is an ongoing effort to share data with Pulaski County offices, providing further convenience for customers.
"If they're happy with the level of services, we feel like we've done our job," Beyer said.
The system will be a valuable tool for town government, providing the financial data for budget and other decisions throughout the year.
Beyer, who became finance director this month, credited Assistant Finance Director Anita Taylor and Assistant Town Manager Rob Lyons for putting together the requirements for a new system.
Taylor said the town started working with consultants last October. Employees in the Finance Department were also involved from the start, she said. "They know what they need."
Taylor said accuracy will be improved and customers will be able to get their information without having to wait. Payments will be processed more quickly.
The system will go on line over the next six months. For a while, the present system will be running along with the new system as changeovers are made and training is completed. Beyer said the challenge will be to maintain the level of services to customers during a transition that he likened to a relay race.
"It's almost like passing that baton there while maintaining your speed," he said. "We hope the citizens will be patient with us."
The town's proposed 1995-96 capital improvements budget includes $105,867 for the computer network, $34,967 for each of the next two fiscal years and $10,000 for each of the two after that.
Department employees will go to Greenville for training on the new system, which is being used successfully in other municipalities including Bedford. Taylor said there are plans for joint training sessions with jurisdictions using the software whenever it is upgraded, so they can share information.
The final part of the new system, adding the data on real estate and property taxes, is scheduled to be up in November.
"We wanted it yesterday, but we'll have to wait until tomorrow," Taylor said.
by CNB