Council is transitioning to digital, but they still need a vote on how to fund their new netbooks.
Athens City Council went digital last week, though council members are still working out how they’ll finance the transition.
Council members were slated to discuss the possible purchase of Acer Chromebooks to be used at meetings at last Monday’s council meeting.
Council President Chris Knisely said the legislative body had discussed purchasing laptops for “several months.”
But when council members arrived to their meeting last Monday, they found the laptops had already came.
The purchase was authorized two weeks ago by Debbie Walker, clerk of council, and arrived April 9.
In total, the seven computers cost $867.
“The need to buy the computers was immediate because our tech guy Scott Thompson found some really good deals on eBay,” said Jeff Risner, D-2nd Ward and chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee.
Those deals came out to an average of $120 per netbook, though council members have not officially designated where those funds will come from.
The initial plan was to purchase the computers out of council’s “supply” line, which is used to purchase small items like office supplies.
But City Auditor Kathy Hecht insisted the money should come from a “computer fund” subset in the council’s capital account, according to Risner.
Those funds are coming out of the city’s general fund, which is financed by citizens’ income taxes and utilities bills.
Risner said council will likely vote to transfer the funds at Monday night’s meeting.
“We’ll take the money that’s in the supply line and transfer it into computer supplies,” he said.
Councilman Steve Patterson, D-at large, said the transfer was primarily for bookkeeping purposes.
“It’s accountancy of the taxpayers dollars,” he said.
Risner said it isn’t uncommon for a purchase to be made before council determines where the funds will come from.
Rather, the items are purchased first and then deducted from the city’s general fund.
“Usually when the city buys something it’s based on the idea that there’ll be a delivery and then there’ll be payment,” he said.
Council members said the purchase of the computers is part of an attempt for council to go completely paperless.
“The costs are so low, it’s kind of like buying a ream of paper,” Risner said.
Knisely said the laptops have also streamlined the process of council meetings.
“We were able to easily share a draft document for special event permits,” she said. “Sometimes previously if you weren’t on the committee you wouldn’t have seen a copy.”
Risner said if the laptops prove valuable, they might purchase laptops for audience members to borrow during meetings.
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