Gainesboro Aldermen approved acquiring a new payroll software called Next Gen during a meeting on Thursday.
The new software will cost the town an estimated $13,422, with an annual support fee of $10,950. Aldermen initially tabled the decision to acquire the new software in February after it was believed the town could find a cheaper option. Aldermen Beth Young said she was a big advocate for tabling the decision last month but has since changed her mind.
“I have gone in and talked to the ladies and I’ve looked at the equipment,” Young said. “I’ve looked at the software, and in order to continue to run everything we do financially for the city, we do need the upgrade.”
Young said she focused on making sure the software had adequate network security. Young said after doing a cost analysis, the software was well worth the price.
“Unfortunately, it’s always a little cost on the front end,” Young said. “But on the back end it will protect our city, it will protect our payroll, it will protect our fiscal accountability.”
Mayor Lloyd Williams said he knows the price is high but understands that’s how much software costs nowadays. Young said she evaluated other software options but could not find a cheaper option.
“Although on the front end it might have been a few dollars cheaper on the backend we would have to try to download all the work the ladies and the city has done for the last twelve years and it would have costed us more to access that information and download it to a new program.”
The board also approved one new computer workstation. The cost of the workstation is an estimated $1,844.
