LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County Commissioners approved nearly $320,000 in technology upgrades during their Feb. 6 meeting, including new property assessment software and electronic poll books for elections.

The largest expenditure, a $198,000 agreement with Vision Government Solutions, will replace the county’s aging Computer Aided Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system before it becomes obsolete in December 2025.

Tax Services Director Merry Bratton explained the county’s current vendor was acquired by Vision, which plans to retire the existing software platform. The new system will maintain the county’s ability to assess real estate values.

“You can’t value property without a CAMA system,” Bratton told the commissioners during detailed questioning about the implementation timeline and costs.

The agreement structures payments in four 25% installments: upon signing, at installation, after additional installation work, and when the live database launches. Bratton assured commissioners the same support staff would transfer from the old system to Vision, bringing their institutional knowledge to the new platform.

When asked about future upgrades, Bratton said, “It’s the newest platform, so it shouldn’t need upgrades for several years now.” She noted the implementation schedule must work around tax billing deadlines.

The commissioners also approved a five-year agreement with Election Systems and Software for electronic poll books. The contract requires $120,084 in first-year capital costs, followed by annual warranty payments of $14,400 for years two through five.

In other technology matters, the board accepted a $64,474 RASA/VOJO grant running through December 2025. They also approved a project modification for an indigent defense grant, reallocating unused personnel funds toward a second assistant public defender position without changing the total grant amount.

The commissioners addressed several property tax matters, exonerating 2024 delinquent real estate taxes on four parcels where mobile homes or cabins had been removed. Two parcels were in Lewistown, with one each in Granville and Wayne Townships.

Legal services featured prominently in the meeting’s agenda. The board approved an agreement with Gallant Psychological and Forensic Services to provide consultation to the District Attorney’s office at $350 per hour, with an initial $3,000 retainer.

The commissioners also approved a reduced-rate agreement with attorney Robert Ferguson for public defender services. The new contract, running February through December 2025, sets annual compensation at $28,692, paid in monthly installments – a decrease from his current rate of about $3,333 monthly. Ferguson will handle conflict cases when the public defender’s office faces conflicts of interest.

In personnel moves, the board approved Holly Yeager’s promotion from tax services clerk to fiscal assistant, effective February 3. They also confirmed the hiring of Mychaela Britt-Wileman as case manager/intake specialist in the public defender’s office, starting February 18.

These technological upgrades come as many Pennsylvania counties work to modernize their systems. The CAMA software implementation highlights how vendor consolidation in government services can force local authorities to adapt their operations.

Looking ahead, the county faces several implementation challenges. The CAMA software must be operational before the current system loses support in December 2025. The electronic poll books need to be in place for upcoming elections. New staff members must be integrated into their roles in tax services and the public defender’s office.

These changes will affect multiple county departments and require coordination between various stakeholders. The success of these initiatives will depend on careful management of timelines, training programs, and resource allocation.