The city of Dunkirk is on the verge of contracting for a new computer system that would put all of the city’s financial records in one place.

The city is in a fiscal crisis, and the fact that different departments have their own financial filing systems has been tagged as a problem area by both City Hall and the state Comptroller’s Office. Getting everyone on the same page — or screen, if you will — is a key goal of city Fiscal Affairs Officer Ellen Luczkowiak. She’s been searching for a provider to do that ever since taking the job a year ago.

Luczkowiak reported at this week’s meeting of the Common Council Finance Committee that she is now ready to offer a contract. Stating that she had already received written support from Councilperson Abigail Yerico, Luczkowiak sought backing from the council members at the meeting, Nick Weiser and Nancy Nichols.

She got it. “If you believe it’s the best option, I’m not inclined to disagree,” Weiser said. “It is a necessity… we’re trusting you to figure it out,” Nichols said.

Luczkowiak’s preferred provider is GovSense. A council resolution to authorize a contract with them is coming, though it’s not clear if it will be brought up at next week’s meeting.

The new program will let the city government “come into what I call the 21st century,” Luczkowiak said. “While it will be costly, it will save us money in the long run.”

GovSense’s program would cost $183,000 to implement and $112,000 annually for a subscription and tech support. It’s funded in the 2025 budget, Luczkowiak said.

The fiscal affairs officer told the committee she has been working with city Personnel Administrator Anne Davis since March to explore software companies that could put the city’s financial information all in one place. The companies offered demonstrations of their products and all city departments were engaged “to make sure whatever program we use will work for the entire city,” Luczkowiak said.

Luczkowiak mentioned two companies other than GovSense: Springbrook Software and Tyler Technologies. Tyler was basically ruled out because its implementation costs would be nearly $400,000 — not including travel expenses for employees that it would charge.

Springbrook would cost $159,000 to implement with $55,000 yearly costs. Weiser asked Luczkowiak if there was value in using GovSense relative to Springbrook’s significantly lower annual costs. Luczkowiak said she could not speak to some of the features Springbrook’s software offered because their demonstration was at the last minute. They didn’t give “demos” of everything they offer and she is apparently more confident that GovSense offers the range of financial software the city is looking for.

Luczkowiak had said earlier, “Who do we like better? It’s a really hard thing to say.” However, in “perusing other departments,” she found that most preferred GovSense’s software.

“But again, they’re all good. They’re all an improvement,” she said.

City Planning and Development Director Vince DeJoy said he is looking at grant opportunities to pay for the software subscription. He mentioned one such opportunity, an Appalachian Regional Commission “Ready to Grow” grant.