Commissioners press for breakdown of $16,000-a-month IT retainer and subscriptions

A commissioner at the Marion County Commission meeting on May 29 asked staff for a detailed monthly breakdown of work performed under the county's retainer with Davies and whether the county is getting $16,000 worth of services for the new monthly rate.

"I just want to make sure that we're getting $16,000 worth of work out of this contract," the commissioner said, noting that the county paid $154,000 to the vendor in 2025 and that subscriptions and software account for a significant portion of the total cost. The commissioner asked for February and March billing, and an hours summary showing work billed at the new $125 hourly rate.

Staff said the county has reporting and can provide the information in a format that protects any nonpublic details. A staff member identified in the discussion as Ashley was asked to compile the requested breakdown and to clarify whether the provided reports can be delivered as a confidential memo when appropriate.

Commissioners discussed that some subscription services are mandatory for countywide operations (for example, cybersecurity tools and office software suites), while other subscriptions might be evaluated for alternatives by individual departments. One commissioner said that when the county compared prior hourly billings at the old $90 rate with the new terms, the contract was expected to be cost-competitive and easier for departments to use because it guarantees access to services without separate approvals.

The commission directed staff to provide the requested billing and hours detail for February and March and to identify whether subscription costs are countywide or department-specific. No vote was required on this request; it was recorded as direction for staff follow-up.