Information Technology Services Shared Services Program

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Many small municipalities are currently under intense budget pressure from decreasing revenue and increased service expectations from their residents. However, new technological tools and solutions offer local governments efficient ways to provide services but they often struggle to find adequate technology support. Additionally, software and hardware costs can prevent governments from making process improvements. In Kansas, the City of Mission benefited from Johnson County’s Information Technology Shared Services Program, a program designed to solve the technology dilemma for small municipalities. A team of Information Technology Services (ITS) subject matter experts conducted a high level analysis of the City of Mission’s technology environment and produced a quote for services. This quote detailed the support services that could be offered and the cost of those services. The quote also recommended replacement of several hardware components as well as the implementation of industry standard best practices for technology management. The ITS quote for services was significantly lower than the cost of obtaining a lower level of service from the City’s current provider. Both organizations agreed to create an inter-local agreement for ITS to provide technology support and services to the City. ITS evaluated the state of the City’s hardware assets and recommended replacements in several areas. Using ITS hardware purchasing expertise and County vendor contacts, the City was able to replace nearly every component of their technology infrastructure at a cost that fit in their budget. This included everything from servers to switches to desktop computers. The City is enjoying much lower costs for technology support with a higher level of service. This program has allowed certain city staff to reduce the time spent on technology problems and focus on their other areas of responsibility. They also report experiencing increased productivity and reliability as a result of the upgrades. Overall, this county initiative has had a long-term benefit on local municipalities.