Agenda Packets - 1986/12/15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: Mayor & Council FROM: Finance Director -Treasurer Brager DATE: December 11, 1986 RE: PURCHASE OF PERSONAL COMPUTERS Purchase of two rersonal computers is included in the 1987 General Fund Budget in Administration, Capital Outlay, Account 100-120-4703. These personal computers would be used primarily in the Finance Department and would serve a dual purpose. They would be used as stand alone units for several applications which are not efficient to perform or can not be performed on our large computer. These applications include electronic spreadsheets, graphics and telecommunications. The second use for these personal computers is to serve as a workstation for our large computer system. The following paragraphs will outline these uses in more detail. The Finance Department presently has a number of applications on Lotus 1,2,3, an electronic spreadsheet. They include: calculation of unionized police salaries and fringe benefits, calculation of Local 49 (Public Works) salaries and fringe benefits, calculation of non -union salaries and fringe benefits, tracking of energy costs (electricity & natural gas) in dollars and units consumed and budget worksheets for all departments. The Department plans to put many audit worksheets on Lotus 1,2,3 as well. Use of electronic spreadsheets is very efficient in that one can perform a spreadsheet analysis in one-half the time required using a pencil, paper and a calculator. Once the spreadsheet is set up it may be used over and over again by inserting new numbers into the spreadsheet. Another application that would be beneficial to the City is graphics software. Graphics software would allow the printing of graphs & charts for inclusion in the budget book, annual financial statnents and other financial reports. Charts and graphs could be produced for use in presentations by the Finance as well as other departments. Use of graphs and charts would improve the quality of printed and oral presentations. These personal computers would also be used as workstations for our large computer. purchase of terminal emulation software and a cable are required for hook up to the large computer. We have extra cables that were received when our system was purchased. The terminal emulation software is available at a cost of $125.00. Present plans are to put one computer at the Accountant's desk and the other at the Finance Director's desk. That arrangement solves some problems that had been encountered with our computer system. Our original plan was to have the Accountant and Accounting Clerk use the computer terminal