Cheyney Group Accounting Software Review

After tabling discussion last month, members of the Montgomery County Board unanimously approved spending $57,875 on new financial and payroll software as part of their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday morning, Feb. 10, at the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro.

Board members Mike Webb and Bob Sneed were absent from the meeting.

Finance Committee Chairman Megan Beeler said she tabled the motion last month because she felt there were some details that still needed to be ironed out. This month's motion featured an approval to purchase both the financial and payroll software from Zobrio, but the committee decided to hold off on the human resource and time keeping modules. Zobrio has agreed to lock in the same price for up to six months if the county decides to add the human resource or time keeping modules.

Board member Heather Hampton+Knodle asked if that price lock was included in the contract, and Beeler said it's not because it's not part of the proposal. Dave Penrod of Zobrio was present at the meeting and guaranteed to board members he would offer them that same price.

Board member Ron Deabenderfer asked about the advantages of the new software program. Beeler said the county is currently paying for a software system, and this one will improve the county's accounting ability and improve efficiency.

"It offers better payroll and inventory tracking," said Treasurer Ron Jenkins. "It brings us out of the Stone Age."

Board Chairman Roy Hertel said the county employees tried two new software companies and they preferred the Zobrio software, and Jenkins added that it's very user friendly.

Board member Mike Plunkett said the software does have an annual maintenance agreement, but will cost $9,000 a year less than maintenance on the current software.

"Basically, it will pay us back in six years," Plunkett said.

He added that the board budgeted $80,000 for the project and will come in well under that.

Consent Agenda

Under the consent agenda, Supervisor of Assessors Ray Durston reported he hired a new GIS technician, Cassidy Younker of Stonington. Durston said she is catching onto the new job very well and will attend training next week.

County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser said her office has been collecting fees under the Rental Housing Support Program. The state charges $9 for every recorded document and the county has collected $430,326 since the law's inception in August 2005.

"The intent was to serve low income housing," Leitheiser said. "I have been trying to advocate to get those dollars returned to Montgomery County."

She said that the CEFS program and CEO Paul White applied to receive some of that funding, and has brought $117,168 back to Montgomery County since 2012.

"We'd like to see it all come back here, but this is a good start," Leitheiser said.