Software to track planning and development applications at the Town of Canmore has come in over budget and administration has asked council for another $180,000 for the capital project mid-year.
Supervisor of information technology for the municipality Allan Wingenbach detailed for council at its July 3 meeting the reasons why the original budget of $150,000 would not cover replacing the needed software system.
Wingenbach said the request for proposal process for the software resulted in six responses, and all were in excess of what the original budget set in 2012 provided.
“Planning and IT staff have made significant efforts to keep the (current software) system running and functioning in a way that is valuable to the operation,” he said, adding the software being used now has been unsupported since 2005.
The total budget requested, and approved, was $330,000 and would provide software that improves the Town’s operations by allowing applications to be made online, integrating with other Town systems like the geographical information system, and mobile field inspections.
Manager of planning Alaric Fish said the software would allow the municipality to provide updates on applications real time, as well as increased levels of automation through the review process.
According to administration, the added budget would come from capital reserves and it is a top priority budget item, as it is necessary for the functioning of the municipality.
Even though the software is essential, there was some concern expressed by council at the size of the budget change mid year.
“It is a lot of money coming at this point in our annual budget and operating timeline,” said the mayor. “But I appreciate the critical nature of the software.”
Coun. Sean Krausert said he supports the motion, but budget increases are always hard to take “because it puts us between a rock and a hard place.”
