Anne Arundel County?s attorney said he does not see any problem with the school system?s controversial purchase of a $4 million payroll program.
“If facts emerge that there is some impropriety in the way the [school] board finances [the payroll system], that will lead to appropriate action,” said County Attorney Jonathan Hodgson, who does not plan to move forward with the case at this time.
Superintendent Kevin Maxwell said in a recent letter to the County Council that he was purchasing the payroll system with money the council transferred to the school system in the county?s Fiscal Year 2007 budget.
But the council did not approve the money for this purchase.
Hodgson said the way the school system used the money “does raise the question whether or not they needed money.”
The council wanted the school system to wait 30 days so the county officials could see if other agencies can use the payroll system, which could save the county money.
But waiting just one month was just too long, said schools spokesman Bob Mosier, referring to the 18 months needed to fully install the payroll system.
School officials said the current payroll system?s hardware is no longer manufactured and the software expires at the end of the year.
“Our human resource department manages the lives of 25,000 people in terms of employees, retirees and their families,” he said. “Everyday we are at risk of not being able to issue paychecks.”
Both he and Council Chairman Ronald C. Dillon, R-District 3, said other county agencies can still tap into the contract for the vendor of the payroll system.
School officials said its books will be in the black and the $3 million made in the first payment for the system will not have a negative impact on the students.
Several Council members are taking a reserved approach to purchase.
“We?ll let the dust settle,” Dillon said. “I don?t think anyone wants to do a knee-jerk reaction.”
County Executive John Leopold, who has fought with Maxwell over the schools? budget, declined to comment on the payroll issue.
