Peoria County approves BerryDunn contract to standardize Tyler cashiering; ERP fund cited

The Peoria County board approved a professional services agreement with BerryDunn on June 2 to implement a standardized Tyler cashiering package across county departments, following an earlier feasibility study that found 15 different cashiering approaches in use.

Mark Little, the county chief information officer, said the implementation is the first stage after the county’s Tyler ERP deployment and that existing ERP funds — roughly $435,000 — are available to complete the initial work. “We found there were 15 different models of receding going on across the county with many of those using spreadsheets and manual processes,” Little said describing the motivation for standardization.

Member Brian Elsasser questioned the pace of recurring technology spending and opposed the contract, arguing the county repeatedly spends “a couple more hundred thousand or two or three or four hundred thousand to try to protect ourselves” and that he “won't be supporting this.” The board recorded one no vote (Elsasser) and one abstention (Member Linda E. Daley); the remaining members voted in favor and the resolution passed.

Why it matters: County leaders said a single cashiering system will improve auditability, reduce ad hoc spreadsheets and make countywide reconciliation and oversight easier. Little said the next steps include finalizing agreements with Tyler and coordinating BerryDunn's assistance for implementation.

Next steps: Little will return with implementation specifics and any additional procurement or budget requests needed for later phases.