Leesburg commission says FY2026 IT budget includes network upgrade and cybersecurity position; staff to recruit in May

The Technology and Communications Commission on March 4 heard an update on the town's FY2026 information-technology budget that includes a network enhancement project and a funded cybersecurity position, and learned staff will advertise the cybersecurity job in May if recruitment timing permits.

Commission members were told the Town Council approved the budget package that includes the network project as an enhancement and the additional cybersecurity position. Staff said council directed a five-month hold on filling the new position — roughly through December — but that salary savings in other areas could allow an earlier hire. Town staff indicated they plan to place the job advertisement in May and proceed if a qualified candidate appears earlier.

Why it matters: the funded cybersecurity position and planned network work form the town's primary near-term investments in digital infrastructure and security. Commission discussion tied the hires and network upgrade to long-term goals including reduced recurring costs for third-party fiber services and expanded enterprise tools for town departments.

Key details provided by staff included that some security-related certifications were moved from "preferred" to "required" in the revised job description; the transcript did not specify the exact certification names. Staff also said they submitted a requisition to human resources and will involve commission volunteers in one of the later interview rounds for the cybersecurity hire.

Staff reported the town obtained a site license for Laserfiche (enterprise content-management) covering up to 500 users, which staff said will increase departmental access and reduce per-seat license purchases. In addition, staff said standard security software licenses included in the base budget were approved and remain in place.

Commissioners discussed outreach and communications alongside the IT update. The commission requested a briefing from the town's public-information staff about social-media platforms and the town's approach; staff said hiring a new digital content/web manager under the PIO will help align social media and web efforts. The PIO office also plans drafts of updated policies, including an AI policy and revisions to the town's acceptable-use guidelines.

Staff flagged an upcoming telco migration: Verizon will move infrastructure overnight later in the week, requiring coordination among three telecommunications providers. Staff said they will monitor the move to protect critical services such as 911 and radio systems (VSIN) and to support the police department during the transition.

Members also raised community-facing IT ideas: public outreach and training for seniors and residents on cybersecurity, a possible hackathon or STEM-related events for youth, and partnerships with the library and parks and recreation for venues. The commission noted the town's GIS program recently won recognition from Esri and that the department will consider whether to send the GIS manager to the national conference in San Diego.

Votes at a glance: the meeting recorded three procedural motions that the commission approved during the session. The transcript records that the minutes of the virtual meeting held on March 4, 2025, were approved; the commission approved its bylaws as reviewed by town legal; and the meeting was adjourned by unanimous voice vote in the opinion of the chair. Individual roll-call tallies were not recorded on the public transcript.

Next steps: staff said they will post the cybersecurity job in May, circulate drafts of updated social-media and AI policy language when available, and continue coordination with public-safety partners during the telco infrastructure migration. Commissioners asked staff to return with concrete community-outreach proposals at a future meeting.