Bureau of
Technology
Simona Rollinson,
the Chief Information Officer (CIO), explained that the Bureau is moving away
from customized solutions to looking at commercial, off-the-shelf solutions
which are more reliable and take far less time to implement. In addition, they
are looking at multi-phase development for incremental change. She
heard many complaints that in the past the Bureau would spend years working on a
new system, only to find that when it was ready to be implemented, it was out of
date.
This new approach
requires special skills, which is why 1/3 of the Bureau are either new hires or
new promotions. While the number of employees is down, the total salaries are up for
2016, reflecting what is needed to both hire and retain employees with the
necessary skills.
There were several questions by Commissioners about
some of the salaries, and the CIO was to get back to them.
Ms. Rollinson cited
a number of accomplishments in 2015, including the awarding of contracts for the
“Big 4” new systems: the Integrated Property System, the Integrated Revenue System, the
Integrated Justice System, and the County-wide Enterprise Resource Planning
System. Implementation will begin in
2016.
For many years the
Commissioners have expressed concern over the separate systems in each of the
different elected officials’ offices.
Ms. Rollinson said that 2015 saw the rollout of the
new process whereby any new contract for technology anywhere in the County must
first obtain the concurrence of the CIO. This
should reduce duplication and encourage collaboration, even though technology
personnel still remain in each of the separately elected officials’
offices.
Several Commissioners stated they were willing to
help encourage the elected officials to cooperate with the Bureau as
needed.
Chairman Daley said one way the Board can help is to
not authorize money for individual systems unless a department is
cooperating.
Commissioner
Schneider said that in the past the Board has authorized many dollars to be
spent on technology with the expectation that this would result in a reduction
in personnel. But this has not happened in most cases. The CIO
stated that she thinks that the new Time and Attendance system being implemented
will show results. But she also said that the question about technology
improvements and employee count needed to be directed to individual
departments.
Commissioner Boykin
asked how the CIO would grade the County in terms of technology. The CIO said that it
was moving toward being comparable to other counties of its size, but that means
that more improvement is necessary. Commissioner Tobolski asked whether the
County would be able to implement the Chicago Mayor’s proposal in Springfield
which would exempt properties less than $250,000 from the new increase in
property taxes just approved in the city (or provide rebates). The CIO
stated that the County had just received the bill the prior Monday and were
evaluating what would be required. Commissioner Steele offered to connect
the Bureau with the Seattle Assessor’s office which has utilized its Geographic
Information System (GIS) to grow economic development and which has a wonderful
integrated property system.
Board of
Commissioners
The Secretary to the
Board, Matthew DeLeon, presented the budget for the Board, which includes the
Secretary’s budget. Overall, the total budget is up $203,000, or 2.7%, most of that for
salary increases for staff (the Commissioners’ salaries are set by ordinance,
and have not been raised in many years). There
was some discussion about the fact that several years ago all the Commissioners’
budgets were equal, but that is no longer the case. Commissioner Boykin stated
that his office is not implementing any new salary increases out of concern for
the impact on the poor and seniors as a result of the sales tax
increase.
Commissioner Schneider made the point that he has
never utilized his entire approved budget, in effect giving back money to the
County each year. Commissioner Sims suggested money could
be saved if there was a central office supply purchasing plan, rather than each
office purchasing its own supplies.
Commissioner
Schneider asked about the reference in the Capital Budget for changes to the
Board Room. Mr.
DeLeon explained that the goal is to make the Room accessible for the public,
the Commissioners, and the County staff, which it clearly is not
now.
The 2016 Capital Budget contains money to start on
this.
Commissioner Tobolski asked why they can’t go ahead
and purchase a couple large television screens to project agendas and
presentations.
After Mr. DeLeon stated some issues that had to be
considered first, Mr. Tobolski (jokingly?) offered to purchase them
himself.
Several
Commissioners complained about the salary increased in other County departments,
in contrast to their own salaries.
Chairman Daley reminded them that they have the power
to increase the salaries for Commissioners, but that any increase would not take
place until after the next election for Commissioners, in 2018.
Commissioner Sims
expressed concern over speakers who utilize the public comment time to make
derogatory comments and/or fail to stick to a subject on the agenda for a Board
or Committee meeting. Mr. DeLeon stated that per the State’s Attorney General, a public comment
time must be offered to all, but that the chair does have the authority to
regulate the speaker should the speaker go off topic.
-- Priscilla Mims,
League Observer
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