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City IT presents cybersecurity plan, Copilot rollout and GIS fixes as FY2027 requests
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Summary
IT described cybersecurity priorities, a measured Microsoft Copilot rollout with enterprise protections, and GIS projects including a tree inventory and tipper-cart billing reconciliation that could correct $160,000 in annual billing mismatches.
DUBUQUE, Iowa — The city’s information technology department presented FY2027 priorities April 15, emphasizing cybersecurity hardening, an expanding Copilot deployment and GIS work to resolve utility billing inconsistencies.
Joe Prigler, chief information officer, said IT added staff this year and supported major efforts including the 9-1-1 center move, wireless upgrades and ERP user access. Prigler described a set of recommended IT investments that include an IT service-management software (recurring request) and capital projects for network switches and a network-security risk assessment.
Timothy Krieger, the city’s chief information security officer, noted an FBI-reported 26% year-over-year increase in cybercrime in 2025 and urged a layered approach to cyber-hygiene: multi-factor authentication, regular patching, backups and endpoint configuration. Krieger said the department will pursue state and federal cybersecurity grant programs when available and perform baseline assessments and tabletop exercises to improve incident readiness.
Prigler and Braden Daniels described a Microsoft Copilot pilot that issued 100 licenses and produced measurable uptake; Daniels said Copilot interactions have grown about 11.3% per month since December. Prigler said the licensed, enterprise-grade Copilot the city uses includes data-protection features and that the city’s AI-appropriate-use policy and mandatory training videos restrict employee inputs (for example, prohibiting insertion of personally identifiable information into Copilot prompts).
On GIS work, Nikki Rosemeyer reported a mapping-driven audit that found roughly 2,100 addresses whose tipper-cart size did not match utility-billing records. Rosemeyer estimated aligning cart billing with actual cart sizes could yield about $160,000 per year in additional revenue for utility billing. She also described a tree inventory project and an MS4 inspection app, noting in-house work saved approximately $30,000 versus hiring a consultant.
Council members asked about Copilot security, training and whether licensing costs are charged to departments; Prigler said Microsoft’s enterprise licensing includes enhanced data protections and the city already charges back Microsoft licenses to departments. Several council members supported a one-time $5,000 request for an outdoor shaded area (a personnel amenity) at the IT campus as a recruitment and retention aid, with staff noting the cost would be a one-time, nonrecurring expense from a reserve source.
The IT department’s requested packages and capital items will be considered with other FY2027 priorities at subsequent hearings.
