HOOKSETT - The town has requested proposals for a software upgrade that will give department heads access to a live review their budgets, revenues, expenditures and payrolls.

The request solicits bids for an upgrade to the town's general ledger, payroll and accounts payable software and the addition an electronic purchasing program to the town's financial accounting systems.

The town currently uses software developed by Business Management Systems Inc. of Franconia, which specializes in school and municipal accounting programs.

Officials are concerned about the current program's flexibility, particularly with the inability of department heads to view their budgets, expenditures and revenues "in real time." Instead, they rely on monthly reports distributed by the town Finance Department.

The town also lacks an electronic purchase order system, forcing employees to use paper orders, which do not stipulate budget lines upon approval.

"Right now, there's no real way for department heads to check the actual spending situation in their department," said Town Administrator Dean Shankle.

"They have to wait until the end of the month. So I tried to put together a better system where all the departments will instantly have access to where their budgets are and what money they have in what line items," Shankle said.

Bid submissions are due by Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. where they will be publically unsealed and read aloud.

The upgrade is being funded through money raised by a warrant article last year.

Article 15 on the 2012 warrant authorized the town to raise $47,000 (through an estimated tax increase of $.029) to purchase financial software.


bclogston@newstote.com