Auburn City Council approved a contract for new tax billing and collection software and tabled a decision on accepting insurance proceeds for a totaled police vehicle during its regular meeting on Nov. 13, 2025.
Council approves new tax billing software
The council unanimously approved a contract for new tax billing and collection software, awarding the project to Edmunds at a cost of $50,000 for implementation and $22,000 annually for three years. The system will replace the city’s outdated legacy software, which officials said is no longer supported and difficult to maintain.
According to City Comptroller Mary Beth Leeson, the current system runs on an aging AS/400 platform and poses a growing risk to operations due to limited support and rising costs. “It’s archaic,” Leeson told the council. “We really have one person in house that can do it, who is very close to retirement.”
Staff from the treasurer’s office, IT department, and assessor’s office reviewed four proposals. Edmunds scored highest based on completeness, technical functionality, pricing, and project planning. Though Tyler Technologies offered full integration with the city’s Munis accounting system, its $175,000 implementation cost was deemed too expensive.
Councilor Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson raised concerns about long-term costs. Leeson responded that Edmunds’ system meets current needs and agreed to make future adjustments at no additional cost under the contract. The first year’s implementation will be funded using the city’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Resolution on insurance proceeds tabled
A resolution to accept insurance proceeds for a police vehicle damaged in a pursuit was tabled after City Manager Jennifer Haines reported that the city is pursuing additional reimbursement. The initial insurance payment of $48,095 fell short of the total cost to replace and outfit the vehicle.
Haines said the city plans to bring forward a new resolution at the next meeting to authorize purchasing a replacement vehicle using contingency funds, with the expectation of being reimbursed once the remaining insurance funds are secured. Sergeant Gilfus identified a replacement vehicle already in stock at a reduced price, which could expedite the process.
Public announcements and acknowledgments
Mayor Jimmy Giannettino, Jr. opened the meeting by honoring two former city employees who recently passed away: Greg Cameron, who retired in 2007 after 33 years of service including time as head groundskeeper at Hoopes Park, and Bill Fulton, who served 10 years as secretary to the Civil Service Commission.
Parks and Recreation announced that open skate sessions at Casey Park will begin the weekend of Nov. 14–16. A full schedule is available on the city’s website.
Councilor Christina Calarco noted the honor of attending the 40 Under 40 Awards, where Cayuga Museum Executive Director Kirsten Ghosh was recognized.
Giannettino also highlighted the city’s Veterans Day ceremony, commending participation by the public and service members, including First Sergeant Angel Gonzalez of the U.S. Army Reserve and Auburn Police Department.
Infrastructure and community updates
Haines provided an overview of legislative priorities discussed at the New York Conference of Mayors’ 2026 planning meeting, emphasizing proposed increases to infrastructure funding, updates to housing development incentives, and temporary relief from mandates tied to the state’s electric building requirements.
She also addressed continued efforts to inventory lead water service lines. Residents were recently asked to submit photos of their plumbing to help determine the presence of lead piping. Haines said the city has received strong participation, though some areas remain unknown and may require excavation.
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