The City Council has approved a budget of $100,000 from the Water Fund to enhance the management of water services. This funding includes a special allocation of $71,125 for hiring Glass Box Technology, Inc. to develop customized utility reports for the new Tyler Munis system, along with a backup fund of $28,875 for related expenses.

This decision follows the City’s implementation of the new Tyler Utility Billing software, which began in May 2024. The need for customized reports has become essential as regulations and reporting requirements become more complex. The previous system allowed for tailored reporting, which will need to be replicated in the upgraded software.

The City has identified eight key reports for development, starting with the Apportioned Consumption Report, which summarizes monthly water sales and is critical for regulatory reporting and water conservation efforts. Data inconsistencies have been noted, indicating challenges staff may encounter when transitioning to the new system.

Additional reports planned include the Extrapolated Consumption Report and the Block Summary Report, which will provide insights into water use and billing for both finalized and estimated accounts. The completion of these subsequent reports will depend on the timely development of the initial report.

Other proposed reports, such as the High Consumption Report and the Meter Install Report, aim to enhance operational efficiency and assist with budget planning, reducing the need for manual data collection.

This information is from the backup material for April 15, 2025 City Council.