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Lane County IT details cuts, cybersecurity steps, and plans for AI and a regional radio upgrade
Summary
Chief Information Officer Mike Finch briefed the budget committee on Technology Services' proposed FY 2025-26 budget, noting material-and-service reductions, continuing cybersecurity and data work, a rural-fire radio fiscal agency, and desktop and cloud modernization including AI guidance for staff.
Mike Finch, Lane County's chief information officer, presented Technology Services' FY 2025-26 budget to the budget committee on May 14, summarizing proposed materials-and-services reductions, one FTE retirement-driven reduction, and several projects the department considers strategic priorities.
Finch said the department plans targeted cuts while preserving front-line support services. "We develop an internal service fund rate... and this year we brought everybody together," he said, describing a coordinated approach to surgical reductions. Technology Services manages eight divisions and about 79.5 full-time equivalents, provides countywide infrastructure and application services, and runs an on-site data center that also supports regional partners.
Cybersecurity and compliance staff have consolidated some software-administration work and are focusing on duplicated subscriptions to reduce costs. Kim Morgan, information security officer, and the team have prepared guidance for staff on safe use of generative AI and are preparing a policy framework; Finch said the county is awaiting enterprise-capable, protected AI features from vendors (for example, Microsoft's secure Copilot offerings) before rolling broader capabilities into county operations.
Finch described a transitional fiscal-agency relationship with rural fire districts to modernize legacy radio systems and noted that the long-standing Lane Interoperability Group trunked radio system remains separately funded and unchanged. He said the department is exploring web-based (virtual) desktop options to reduce hardware lifecycle costs and is reviewing the PC replacement program to find efficiencies by projectizing replacements.
Why it matters: Technology services underpin nearly every county function. Finch emphasized cybersecurity, continuity for the shared data center (which supports dispatch and 9-1-1 continuity), and controlled adoption of AI tools to protect sensitive data and retain operational benefits.
Ending note: Committee members asked about PC replacement logistics, AI guidance and regional services; Finch said the department will continue training, vendor negotiations and targeted investments to support county priorities while balancing rate and M&S pressure.
