Supervisors Approve New Payroll System
Ventura County supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved the purchase of a $12.7-million computer system to issue paychecks, track benefits and handle other personnel information.
Although the county is weighing a budget cut of $10 million, supervisors agreed that putting off the purchase would be risky. The 20-year-old system currently in use is vulnerable to breakdowns and relies on technology so obsolete that employees familiar with it are hard to find, said Matt Carroll, head of the county’s Information Systems Department.
After researching the issue for five years, county officials chose PeopleSoft, a company in Pleasanton, Calif., to provide the new system. The company has done similar work for about 20 of California’s 58 counties, Carroll said.
The system is to be installed in phases and completed in 2004. County officials said they hope the current system holds together until then.
“I’d hate to see us have to bring in a Brinks truck or go back to hand-writing checks,” said Supervisor Judy Mikels.
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