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ADMINISTRATION - Information Systems Manager David Bliss & Chief Administrator Gabriel Hydrick
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION - Review feasibility of transitioning the County’s outsourced IT services to an in-house framework
b) Discussion and possible direction to move forward with IT consolidation as presented
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Financial Impact:
Transitioning to an in-house framework would result in a $21,134 annual reduction in total IT costs compared to the current outsourced model.
Background Information:
In 2017, the County engaged Synoptek, an outside consulting firm, to evaluate countywide IT services and provide recommendations for aligning technology management with County objectives. The goal of this agenda item is to reassess the gaps identified in the original assessment and address persistent challenges that remain unresolved.
Building on Synoptek's recommendation, the Board requested a re-evaluation of the feasibility and advantages of transitioning IT services in-house. This report outlines a proposed in-house centralized IT framework, including the reclassification of the Information Systems Manager position to a Chief Information Officer (CIO) role to provide the strategic leadership necessary for this transition and future IT initiatives.
Total Annual Savings:
Transitioning to an in-house framework would result in a $21,134 annual reduction in total IT costs compared to the current outsourced model (This excludes contracts for TCTC, TRAX & Tehama RCD - $152,124).
Current Outsourced Model (2023-2024):
• Total Costs for Outsourced IT Services & IS Manager Salary: $955,535
o IS Manager Salary ($120k): $165,000
o Outsourced Services: $790,535 (excluding $121,478 in contracts associated with TCTC, TRAX & Tehama County RCD)
§ Outsourced Helpdesk Services (Apex & Obsidian): $582,000
§ Outsourced Additional Solutions (Apex & Obsidian): $208,535
In-House Model (2025-2026):
• Total Costs for In-House IT Services & CIO Salary: $934,401
o CIO Salary ($170k): $225,000
o In-House Service Costs: $709,401
§ Labor for Helpdesk, Projects, and Onsite Support: $482,000
§ IT Tools: $71,000
§ Additional Solutions (with 25% savings compared to outsourced): $156,401
LATCF Funds
• In-house staff would have the capacity to work on County ongoing initiatives, improvements and infrastructure projects. By utilizing in-house staff for these projects, LATCF funds allocated for project labor in the 2025-2026 fiscal year (up to $190,000) could be reallocated. This would allow the Board to repurpose those funds for other priorities or initiatives.
The transition to an in-house IT framework supports the County’s strategic goals by improving cost efficiency, service quality, and the ability to customize services to departmental needs. While initial investments in infrastructure and staffing are necessary, the long-term benefits of this model-enhanced technology support, reduced vendor dependency, and stronger alignment with County priorities-significantly outweigh the upfront costs.
The Board is now being asked to review the findings of this updated analysis, compare the existing outsourced IT model with the proposed in-house framework, and provide direction on whether to proceed with transitioning the County's outsourced IT services to an in-house model.