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Lincoln County Commission reviews IT department budget; staff cites cuts after in‑house rebuild
Summary
At its April 30 meeting, the Lincoln County Commission heard from IT staff, who said they cut costs by rebuilding the network and expect further reductions through a new MCT program; commissioners confirmed licensing fees are charged to line item 200 (supplies).
The Lincoln County Commission reviewed the IT department's proposed budget during its April 30 meeting. Saul, who represents the county's IT department, told commissioners he has reduced his budget over the past four years and expects additional savings next year through cooperation with a new program he identified as the MCT program.
Why it matters: The IT budget underpins the county's ability to run its software, hardware and licensing agreements. Savings tied to in‑house work and program partnerships can affect how much the county must allocate in future operating budgets.
Saul described a multi‑year effort to bring costs down. "I was trying to cut my budget for the past four years," he said, and added that he had moved from what he described in the meeting as "$2.55 or $2.50 down to $2.00 3," while expressing hope that he would be "under 200" next year with help from the MCT program. The transcript phrasing of the numeric figures was unclear; commissioners and staff did not provide a clarified, formal numeric line‑item summary during the discussion.
Saul said one of the largest savings came from reducing third‑party licensing costs. "A lot of the line item on 200 was covered by companies that we would pay a monthly or annual fee on," he said, and added that he has been rebuilding the county's network with its own equipment so the county is not paying outside vendors to manage that equipment.
The chair asked where the licensing fees were currently accounted for in the budget. Saul and the chair confirmed those costs are being paid from line item 200, labeled supplies.
Commissioners thanked Saul for his work. The meeting record shows multiple expressions of appreciation, with the chair saying the commission values his efforts as effectively a one‑person department tackling technology needs.
Procedural note: The chair recessed the meeting until 10:00 a.m., when the commission will return for administrative and old business items. No formal motions or votes on the IT budget were recorded in the transcript.
