The Monroe County Commissioners held a work session on February 27, 2025, focusing on the annual renewal of Microsoft licensing agreements, which include essential services such as Office 365, SQL servers, and server operating systems. The meeting highlighted a significant increase in costs, with the new agreement reflecting an additional $24,000 compared to the previous year.

The increase is attributed to the number of new hires within the county, as each additional license incurs a substantial cost. The county maintains a small buffer of licenses, and with the recent hiring, this buffer has been depleted. The discussion emphasized the financial implications of providing technical support and necessary software for employees, with an average cost of approximately $3,000 per employee per year for these services.

County officials noted that while Microsoft did not raise their prices, the overall expenses have risen due to the increased number of licenses required. Efforts were made to negotiate additional services and security improvements with Microsoft; however, these options would have significantly raised costs by over $100,000, prompting the county to limit its requests.

The urgency of the renewal process was also discussed, as the county is required to finalize agreements at least 30 days before the renewal date. The meeting concluded without further questions, underscoring the financial challenges faced by the county in managing technology costs alongside staffing needs.