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Montgomery Township to switch financial software; staff projects five‑year payback despite public questions about prior costs
Summary
Township staff recommended and the board authorized replacing Tyler Technologies with BS&A software, citing estimated upfront costs of $151,000 (due at signing) and total cost of $200,000 with projected annual savings; residents questioned whether reverting to the prior vendor repeats a costly 2023 change.
Montgomery Township’s board authorized the township manager to execute an agreement to convert the municipal financial system from Tyler Technologies to BS&A software after staff recommended the change and outlined expected costs and savings.
Staff told the board that Tyler Technologies ‘‘has proven to be a disappointment on several levels’’ including price increases, technical issues and poor integration across modules. Staff presented comparative findings and said the upfront cost would be approximately $151,000 due at signing and $200,000 total, with projected medium‑ to long‑term savings that would make BS&A cheaper by roughly $40,000–$42,000 annually once fully implemented. Staff estimated a conservative payback period of about five years.
Members of the public questioned the decision to reverse the township’s 2023 change of vendor and asked how much the previous conversion cost the township. One resident said: "We made a $200,000 mistake in 2023," pressing for clarity about costs and whether the switch is justified. Staff acknowledged the prior investment and told the board that the change is expected to be cost‑effective over the medium term.
The board moved and seconded a motion authorizing the manager to execute the agreement for the software conversion. The motion passed by voice vote. The township will proceed with contract execution and transition planning; staff said departments have participated in software demos and that the IT director and department leads were included in evaluations.
The meeting packet includes the engagement letter for the 2025 audit (estimated $36,000) and the software proposal; the township manager and finance staff will manage the procurement and implementation schedule.
