Dear Editor,
I recently read the article in the Tribune entitled “Software eases Barton County fiscal operations”. I don’t begrudge county employees the ability to perform their duties more efficiently or accurately but I was left with a few questions.
After spending the initial purchase amount of $218,595 or $72,865 over a three year period and then Barton County’s share of the $41,000 per year for as long as the county  utilizes this software, will it save the county any money? If so, how much? If not, why not? Did anyone at the county perform a cost analysis of this investment? Are there going to be any employees losing their jobs, because the county will now be more efficient? How much overtime is going to be paid because of the installation process? Would it have been more feasible to simply pay the $20,000 to do the audit mentioned in the article?
The article indicated there is only one employee at the county that knows and can work on the current programming. Well, why is that? Could it be that the County Commission and Administrator have not been willing to pay for more help in that particular department?
I also have a question for the paper. Why didn’t you ask these questions before writing your story? I would suggest the public would be better served if you would ask a few questions.
Kyle Radenberg
Great Bend