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West Allis committee approves $94,385 purchase to replace staff computers and buy laptops
Summary
The administration committee approved a resolution to buy new computers, laptops and Surface Pros for city staff, transferring funds from other departmental accounts to cover a total cost of $94,385.07 after staff said device costs and mobility needs exceeded the budgeted $50,000.
The West Allis administration committee approved a resolution to buy new desktop computers, laptops and tablets for city staff, increasing this year’s technology purchases to $94,385.07.
Tony Korchacheski, the city’s information-technology director, told the committee the IT replacement program typically purchases devices as they reach five years of age and that this year’s mix includes 46 desktops and 35 laptops, with additional higher-end Surface Pro devices for public-works staff and replacements for a supervisor. "We're not just buying PCs anymore. We're buying 40 PCs... 46 PCs and 35 laptops," Korchacheski said. He explained laptops run about $1,100 each, desktops about $600, and Surface Pros about $2,000.
Korchacheski said unexpected pricing pressures and carryover from 2020—when the city bought many laptops for remote work—shifted the numbers. He asked the committee to approve budget transfers within the IT and departmental accounts, not use reserve or rainy-day funds. "I technically need approval from this group to do that," he said.
Committee members asked where the extra funds would come from; Korchacheski said they would be transferred from unspent salary lines, public-works accounts and other departmental balances and that some funds were provided by the police department and public-works leadership. He detailed three additional purchases beyond the five-year replacement: two new monitors for the police report-writing room (about $3,000), about $20,000 for Surface Pros for fleet and inventory staff, and a $2,000 Surface Pro for a supervisor.
Aldermen moved approval; the committee voted in favor. No alderman recorded opposition.
Korchacheski recommended the IT replacement budget be increased in future years because device prices appear to be rising. "I think next year I might be putting in the budget something closer to 65,000," he said, adding that the right device can increase staff productivity over its useful life.
