Cheyney Group Accounting Software Review

Aftertabling discussion last month, members of the Montgomery County Boardunanimously approved spending $57,875 on new financial and payroll software aspart of their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday morning, Feb. 10, at theHistoric Courthouse in Hillsboro.

Boardmembers Mike Webb and Bob Sneed were absent from the meeting.

FinanceCommittee Chairman Megan Beeler said she tabled the motion last month becauseshe felt there were some details that still needed to be ironed out. Thismonth's motion featured an approval to purchase both the financial andpayroll softwarefrom Zobrio, but the committee decided to hold off on the human resource andtime keeping modules. Zobrio has agreed to lock in the same price for up to sixmonths if the county decides to add the human resource or time keeping modules.

Boardmember Heather Hampton+Knodle asked if that price lock was included in thecontract, and Beeler said it's not because it's not part of the proposal. DavePenrod of Zobrio was present at the meeting and guaranteed to board members hewould offer them that same price.

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

"Itoffers better payroll andinventory tracking,"said Treasurer Ron Jenkins. "It brings us out of the Stone Age."

BoardChairman Roy Hertel said the county employees tried two new software companiesand they preferred the Zobrio software, and Jenkins added that it's very userfriendly.

Boardmember 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.

Headded that the board budgeted $80,000 for the project and will come in wellunder that.

Consent Agenda

Underthe consent agenda, Supervisor of Assessors Ray Durston reported he hired a newGIS technician, Cassidy Younker of Stonington. Durston said she is catchingonto the new job very well and will attend traini