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Sheriff's office urges $356,000 CAD upgrade, asks commissioners to consider ARPA help
Summary
Sheriff's staff said the county's Computer Arts dispatch and records system is outdated and presented a Tyler Technologies migration that would cost roughly $356,000 to start plus recurring fees; staff asked the board to consider ARPA funding for initial setup while ongoing costs come from 9-1-1 funds.
Sheriff's office representatives told the Jefferson County commissioners they need to replace an aging Computer Arts computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and records system because it lacks critical interfaces and mobile capabilities. The office outlined a plan to join Bonneville County's move to Tyler Technologies' cloud-hosted system, which staff say would reduce startup costs compared with a standalone product.
"Right now, the quote from Tyler Technologies to get us up and going is $356,000," the sheriff's office representative said, stressing the size of the initial investment and noting additional annual fees for the hosted service. Deputies and jail staff described mobile and booking features that the current system cannot provide and said integration with neighboring counties would allow shared access to calls and records while keeping separate data control.
Staff told commissioners Bonneville County is preparing a memorandum of understanding to serve as the regional hub and that joint implementation reduces travel and setup costs. County staff said recurring cloud storage and licensing under the Bonneville arrangement could be roughly $15,000 per year compared with an estimated $104,000 per year for a standalone option. Commissioners pressed for a detailed cost breakdown and timeline before a funding commitment.
The sheriff's office asked whether the board could consider allocating ARPA funds to cover the initial setup so the 9-1-1 fund could cover operational costs going forward. "Fiscally, I think it would be very responsible to use ARPA funds to help fund this project," a finance staffer said, noting that the 9-1-1 account also supports day-to-day operations and could be strained by a large one-time outlay. Commissioners asked staff to assemble a final schedule of costs, expected vendor discounts if multiple counties join, and any commitments from other agencies, then return for a decision.
What happens next: staff will provide a written cost breakdown and comparative quotes, including the Bonneville partnership terms, and commissioners will review ARPA availability and budget timing before deciding whether to commit.
