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IT reports SAP upgrade completion, rising subscription and cybersecurity costs
Summary
IT director Jeff McKnight said the county recently completed a multi-year SAP upgrade and highlighted rising Microsoft subscription and cybersecurity costs, staffing pressures and new responsibilities for centralized device management.
Jeff McKnight, IT director, summarized the department’s FY25 budget and recent accomplishments, including completion of a multi-year SAP upgrade and steps to centralize device management for several departments.
Why it matters: IT is a backbone service for county operations; rising software subscription costs, cybersecurity requirements and staffing turnover affect service continuity and operational security.
Key points
- SAP upgrade: McKnight said the county completed a lengthy SAP upgrade that ramped up over six years and concluded last week; he described it as “our core financial system” that supports payroll, purchasing and HR and that most county employees interact with.
- Budget drivers: About 27% of IT funding comes from general fund; the department saw a large one‑time increase tied to SAP costs. Microsoft licensing and other subscription trends drive steady operating costs, and licensing models (user-based, data-based, core-count based) are increasingly complex.
- Staffing and threats: McKnight said IT has expanded cybersecurity staffing and promoted for succession planning; the department faces headhunting and retention pressures and annual PCI compliance audits tied to county credit-card processing.
- Centralization and services: IT took responsibility for computer management for seven departments, consolidating purchases and maintenance; GIS staff are in high demand and the department struggles to retain specialized GIS employees.
Ending note
McKnight encouraged continued investment in cybersecurity, licensing management and staff development to avoid service disruptions and comply with evolving audit requirements.
