Commissioners approve ClearGov budgeting software, including capital module, for Sagadahoc County

The Sagadahoc County Commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 13 to purchase ClearGov’s Digital Budget Book and the Capital Planning module on a prorated basis for use in 2025.

Administrator Jones and Treasurer Gail Eaton told the board the ClearGov platform would provide more contextual visuals and make the county’s budget easier for the public and the Budget Advisory Committee to review. Treasurer Eaton said the platform reduces spreadsheet risk by allowing department heads to enter their own data with permission controls and provides customer support and automated data population.

Vinny Petracca, ClearGov sales representative, described a prorated contract period of Oct. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. The board discussed costs and setup timing: the prorated price for the Digital Budget Book alone was described as $4,125, with an incremental $3,135 to add the Capital module for a prorated total of $7,260. Petracca said the vendor agreed to defer the setup fee and offered a bundled discount for future modules; he also said the agreement would include an appropriation clause to protect the County if future budget approvals do not materialize.

Commissioner August said the platform shows “potential” value for improving budget narratives and multi-year capital planning; Commissioner Crosby emphasized the need to keep pre-release budget data restricted from public view until the board approves it. Commissioner Grose supported the purchase to make the budget more accessible to residents.

Commissioner August moved and Commissioner Grose seconded the agreement to purchase the Digital Budget Book and Capital modules prorated for 2025 in the amount of $7,260.00; the motion passed 3-0.