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Board directs finance modernization, RFP for accounting software and formalizes Finance Team
Summary
Leelanau County commissioners voted to authorize an RFP for replacement of the county’s Harris financial software, create a County Finance Team (Treasurer, Administrator, Finance Director) and direct that team to modernize finance SOPs, develop budget-to-actual reporting and a five-year budget projection format.
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners on March 19 approved Resolution 2026-006 to modernize county financial operations, including authority for the County Administrator to publish a competitive RFP to replace the existing Harris Open Windows financial software and to bring recommendations to the board.
The resolution designates an internal County Finance Team—composed of the County Treasurer (statutory revenue/investment responsibilities), the County Administrator and the County Finance Director—and authorizes the team to evaluate month- and year-end accounting processes, recommend improvements, create a monthly budget-to-actual report and work toward a public finance dashboard for the county website. The team is also authorized to develop a standardized calendar of financial deadlines and a five-year budget projection format and to recommend changes to streamline accounting processes.
Supporters said the changes aim to increase transparency, improve revenue projections and create earlier opportunities for board and public participation in budget development. Opponents voiced concerns about concentrating operational authority and the role of an elected Treasurer on an implementation team; Commissioner Campbell and Commissioner Bunek voted no. Administrator Dyer said final budget approval remains a board responsibility under the Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act, and he offered to amend language to explicitly preserve board approval of final policy if the board wanted that clarification.
The resolution also authorizes the finance team to review recommendations from the Rehmann audit report (2023) and to implement best practices recommended by the Michigan Department of Treasury and the county’s audit firm. The minutes show the motion passed 5–2. Implementation steps, vendor selection and timing were not specified in the minutes and will follow standard procurement and board-approval steps.
