The Finance Committee Meeting held on September 10, 2025, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, focused primarily on the ongoing challenges and timelines associated with the city's utility billing system modernization project. The meeting began with council members expressing their frustrations regarding the prolonged duration of the current contract and the necessity for a more efficient system.

One council member highlighted the hope that the project would conclude by October 2026, emphasizing the importance of maintaining utility billing operations without disruption. The discussion revealed that the city is currently in a challenging position with the existing contract, which has led to a sense of urgency to complete the transition to a new system.

The committee addressed the need for a contingency plan, acknowledging that while the goal is to finish the project sooner, the two-year contract allows for necessary precautions, including data archiving from the current system. This precaution is essential to ensure that historical billing information remains accessible if issues arise during the transition.

A significant point of discussion was the parallel operation of the old and new systems, which is expected to begin in June 2026. This phase will involve three months of dual billing to ensure accuracy before fully transitioning to the new system. Council members expressed their concerns about the reliability of the current contractors and the potential for delays, stressing the importance of a smooth transition.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from city officials to keep the council updated on progress and to ensure that the utility billing system modernization is completed effectively. The council's ongoing oversight and monthly check-ins with city management were reaffirmed as critical to the project's success. Overall, the meeting underscored the city's determination to resolve the longstanding issues with its utility billing system while navigating the complexities of the transition.