Assessor staff seeks contract changes as Momentum seeks discounts; commissioners ask for tightened indemnity and exit terms

Assessor's office staff and county counsel asked the commissioners to approve continued contract negotiations with Momentum (Almentum) for a replacement assessor and tax system, subject to changes to liability and termination language. Staff said the software conversion is time-sensitive because the assessor and treasurer rely on the system during the tax cycle.

County counsel flagged two contract provisions of concern: a vendor request to cap damages at 1.5 times the contract value and the absence of a convenient early-termination path. Counsel said he recommended stronger indemnity and a termination-for-cause clause (with a limited cure period) to protect the county from software failures. "The contract's a $100,000, so they're gonna cap out our damages at 1.5 times," counsel said, describing vendor language; commissioners asked counsel to redline suggested changes and return the document.

Momentum's on-call representative told the board the company was working with other counties and would try to lower implementation costs if more jurisdictions signed on. "Our intention is to absolutely reduce that fee...I do believe I can reduce that professional services implementation cost by 20 to 25%," Momentum's representative said on the call and pledged to follow up with clear pricing schedules. Staff said worst-case Jefferson County conversion pricing (including implementation and license) would be in the low six-figure range and that discounted scenarios are possible if multiple counties join a coordinated onboarding.

What happens next: county counsel will draft contract language changes for commissioners' review and Momentum will provide a cleaned-up pricing schedule and proposed discounts; commissioners gave staff authority to continue negotiations but did not execute the contract at the meeting.