Skip to content

New accounting program for SQCRD

Regional district directors voted Friday (Oct. 21) to spend $48,000 on a new accounting system, after hearing that the existing system was at risk of complete failure.Treasurer Jennifer Robb told directors that a recent financial system audit found that the regional district's system had "significantly degraded", and that over 2,000 system errors were discovered."If these errors are not corrected, it will eventually lead to operational errors and potentially a complete failure of the accounting system," Ms Robb said in a report on the situation.The treasurer said it would cost about $15,000 to repair the existing ACCPAC system, plus $1,200 for additional modules. But, she warned, the system is not designed for local government use and does not meet the regional district's long term needs.Instead, she recommended that the regional district spend $48,000 to buy and set up new financial accounting software called VADIM, which is designed for local governments. The cost includes training.Directors voted to buy the new system, with the money to come from this year's surplus.Directors also voted to buy a new forklift for the Prince Rupert recycling depot at a cost of $31,000 plus taxes. The old forklift stopped working in September, said superintendent of waste management Tim DesChamp, and staff have been renting one since then for $1,380 per month.Directors also voted to give final approval to the Graham Island official community plan, the last step in what has been a long process. The official community plan is now in place, said administrator Joan Merrick.Friday's meeting was held in Prince Rupert and attended by Masset mayor Barry Pages, Port Clements deputy mayor Ian Gould, and Area E director Evan Putterill in person, and by Queen Charlotte mayor Carol Kulesha and Area D director Brad Setso via telephone.The next regional district meeting will be held on Nov. 25, in Prince Rupert.