Veronica Brown, information technology business manager, and Deputy Gary Hewitt presented the IT department’s priorities for SPLOST 9 and asked the commission to include $15 million across four projects.

Brown said the four prioritized items are: replacement of mobile data terminals (MDTs) in patrol vehicles ($1,728,000); public‑safety software improvements including computer‑aided dispatch (CAD) upgrades, live‑video screening, text‑to‑911 and real‑time location tools ($6,000,000, which includes $2,000,000 for sheriff’s office software and real‑time center enhancements); IT server room HVAC and infrastructure upgrades including generator, UPS and electrical switch replacements ($5,000,000); and software consolidation and replacement to support citizen engagement and asset management ($2,272,000). The four items total $15,000,000.

Brown said MDTs reduce maintenance costs, enhance security and provide technology alignment for deputies in the field. On CAD and public‑safety software, she said text‑to‑911 and live‑video screening would help non‑English speakers and people with hearing or speech impairments and would support real‑time response to critical events.

For the server room, Brown said the county operates aging computer‑room air‑conditioning units that fail frequently and that loss of climate control or power to server equipment would risk critical systems. The requested funds would address HVAC, fire suppression, UPS and generator redundancy.

On software consolidation, Brown said modernizing and consolidating legacy systems would improve citizen engagement tools, speed service delivery for planning and permitting, and reduce ongoing license and maintenance costs. She said the IT department had pared many requests and presented the highest priorities for SPLOST consideration.

Commissioners asked how these projects intersect with other public‑safety requests; the administrator and presenters emphasized that nearly every capital project will involve IT components and that stabilizing core IT infrastructure supports other agencies’ SPLOST projects.

No vote was taken; the IT request will be evaluated in the SPLOST package development process.