Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 15, 1995                   TAG: 9507170031
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI                                 LENGTH: Medium

NEW COMPUTERS EXPECTED TO PAY OFF

It also should raise productivity and reduce stress for employees in the town's Finance Department, where many jobs that had been handled manually will be reduced to a computer keystroke.

The computer network has a single file server that allows the transfer of information on billing, collecting, accounting and reporting of data entered just once.

Previously, with a variety of computers, employees had to re-enter and recalculate data manually when going between different functions.

"You're going to get payback from this," Finance Director Max Beyer said Friday during a gathering to formally launch the system.

"We've had obsolete equipment, really," said Mayor Andy Graham. "Now we have good equipment and good personnel."

Employees spent two days in Greensboro, N.C., in recent weeks learning the system from Manatron/Specialized Data Systems. The new system will cost a total of $177,000 over four years.

"I know it may seem like a whole lot of money, but I believe the return is going to be a whole lot more than we invested in it," Graham said. Better accounting and collection of delinquent taxes will be improved, he said, "and I believe that one item alone will pay for that equipment."

"We got everything up and running and on line in just one week," said Assistant Finance Director Anita Taylor.

The part of the system working now processes and records collections of several taxes, the payroll system, payments and accounting, and purchase orders.

Water and sewer utility billing and accounting will come on line in September, along with work order automation. The department will run its old system along with the new one until the new system provides three months of error-free service.

The first payroll checks from the new system were presented to Assistant Town Manager Rob Lyons, town carpentry shop chief Tommy Hodge, and Public Works Director Mike Jenkins. All three men played key roles in researching, providing furniture for or accommodating the office to the system.

The system also allows electronic mail between town offices.

The Finance Department is working toward a banking services agreement with Community National Bank, and has nearly completed a new investment policy for managing the town's idle cash balances when they occur to realize the most interest from them.