When pre-budget season begins for Cayuga County department heads and employees later this year, they can expect to prepare their budgets using Microsoft Excel rather than the county's current antiquated disk operating system.

On Wednesday night, County Ways and Means Committee members authorized a group of county officials to begin requesting proposals for new financial software.

The integrated financial package will include budget-making software with the capability of handling accounts payable and personnel data.

“It's a tough nut to crack but we've known about this problem,” said committee chairman Paul Dudley.

County Manager Wayne Allen said that the proposal for software is almost completed and ready to be released to interested vendors.

Legislators budgeted $350,000 in 2007 to purchase the new financial system.

Allen plans to have the new system up and running by Jan. 1, 2008. Because budget preparations begin prior to the new year, Allen said he wants employees creating their budgets using Microsoft Excel so that it can be easily transferred into the new software.

“The schedule is pretty aggressive but I'm confident the milestone will be met,” said Jim Orman, county treasurer.

County employees experienced numerous problems, including saving data placed in the system, when creating the 2007 county budget. Due to its antiquated status, county officials also have had problems finding people who know how to fix the system.

Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net