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Harrisburg council approves interim budget‑management contract with Keystone Municipal Solutions after extended debate
Summary
Council approved Resolution 54 to hire Keystone Municipal Solutions for interim budget management while a permanent budget manager search continues; debate focused on vendor selection, past budget process performance, applicant scarcity, contract cost and transition planning; the measure passed 5–2.
Harrisburg City Council voted 5 yays to 2 nays to authorize an agreement with Keystone Municipal Solutions (KMS) to provide interim budget management services while the city continues recruiting a permanent budget manager.
Administration said the budget manager position has been vacant since September of the prior year, contributing to delays in audits and heavy workload in finance. Antonio Magna, business administrator, said the contract is a temporary measure to fill critical capacity and is funded through an existing budget reallocation. During discussion, council members asked how many applicants had applied for the vacant budget manager role, why recruitment had produced few qualified candidates, whether the city had considered internal candidates, and what due diligence had been done in selecting KMS.
Marita Kelly, a former Harrisburg finance director and the individual proposed by KMS to lead the interim work, described her experience with Munis and PatternStream budget systems, said she had previously served as finance director and budget manager at the city, and detailed a plan for quickly beginning work and coordinating a transition once a permanent hire is in place. Chad Sailor, representing KMS, said the firm has a multi‑disciplinary team available, including municipal finance and operational specialists, and offered references and client lists upon request.
Council questioning addressed the vendor selection process (administration said it proactively identified the firm rather than running a broad competitive procurement), the size and diversity of the consultant team, potential conflicts tied to prior city employment, and whether $78,000 budgeted for the contract would be exhausted. Council members pressed for transparency on who was recruited for the city vacancy and asked administration to provide a record of outreach and applicants. Some members cited earlier troubled budget rollouts during the transition to PatternStream and said that history reduced their confidence in outsourcing.
Councilwoman Ross and Councilman Rodriguez spoke in favor, citing immediate operational need; Councilwoman RWS and Council President Hill voted no, citing past budget problems and desire to prioritize internal candidates or broader competition. Administration said the firm will be flexible about transition timing and can assist with onboarding a permanent hire.
The resolution passed 5–2. Council directed administration to maintain transparency about recruitment efforts for the permanent budget manager, provide candidate/outreach records on request, and coordinate a transition plan between KMS, city staff and any incoming permanent manager.
