SMITHS FALLS — As Smiths Falls continues work on its new municipal website, council has given in principle support to a multi-year IT strategy that staff say is aimed at improving cybersecurity, system reliability, and access to municipal services, with potential long term cost implications for ratepayers.
Director of corporate services and treasurer Paul Dowber told the Feb. 9 committee of the whole meeting council was not being asked to approve new spending. However, he said the figures included in the strategy were meant to provide context. If all operating recommendations were implemented over several years, the impact could amount to roughly a half per cent increase on the tax levy annually, spread over that period.
Figures presented show the town’s IT operating budget could rise from about $427,000 to just under $1 million annually over the long term if the full strategy were implemented, increasing IT spending from roughly 1.7 per cent of total operating costs to just under four per cent, assuming overall municipal spending remains stable. Capital costs associated with the plan were estimated to average about $325,000 per year, subject to future council approval.
For residents, staff said the long term goal is safer and more reliable municipal systems, with reduced risk of data breaches and service disruptions and improved access to online services.
The strategy was presented to the Feb. 9 committee of the whole by representatives of The Perry Group, an external consulting firm retained to assess the town’s IT environment and develop a long term roadmap.
“We’re not looking for approval of the dollars in the projects tonight,” Dowber said. “We’re looking for approval of the plan in principle, and to go ahead and start forming that governance steering committee.”
The strategy outlines a phased program of work, with early priorities that include stronger cybersecurity controls, centralized IT ticketing, improved system integration, and more reliable networks and Wi Fi across municipal facilities.
Dowber said some initiatives are already underway, including a new HR and payroll system, a service request platform used by parks and facilities, and efforts to bring public works and water and wastewater onto the same system.
“We’re trying to get away from multiple systems that don’t speak into each other,” he said.
He also confirmed the town has purchased an IT ticketing system and is preparing it for implementation.
“That’s a major piece moving forward,” Dowber said. “It also includes inventory, so we can keep track of where the problem areas are.”
Mayor Shawn Pankow described the strategy as a necessary investment, particularly in light of evolving cybersecurity threats.
“It is a multi-year cost, but it is really more of an investment,” Pankow said. “As much as we have provisions of security in place today, we know that’s not static. There are always those out there trying to hold us to ransom, and we have to ensure we protect ourselves.”
Pankow said the potential cost of a serious cyber incident could exceed the investments being proposed.
“The potential costs of something like that could be far greater than the investment we’re making here,” he said.
Coun. Peter McKenna said council also needs to consider the consequences of inaction.
“We talked about the cost of doing this, but we didn’t talk a lot about the cost of not doing it,” McKenna said.
Coun. Chris McGuire questioned whether some of the cost estimates in the strategy were too low. Dowber said the figures were preliminary and intended to provide context, noting staff have already reduced projected costs by choosing practical, fit for purpose systems.
Council supported the project in principle as requested by staff.
Keep connected to your community—Read the latest Smiths Falls news.
To watch Smiths Falls council, visit their Youtube channel.
