TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 14, 2026 Report No. FIN-26-018
TO: Council
FROM: Ian Irvine, Director of Financial Services
SUBJECT: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Project
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council receive the Enterprise Resource Planning project backgrounder attached to Staff Report FIN-26-018 and direct staff to negotiate with Cascadia Partners for the provision of consulting services related to the project with funding to come from the Township’s existing accumulated surplus.
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with information regarding the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project. Attached to the report is a project summary which outlines the project, why it is necessary and what it will mean for the Township. In addition to providing these details, the report includes a recommendation in response to the recent Request for Proposals for consulting services as the Township looks to embark on the first phase of the project.
BACKGROUND:
For over 20 years, the Township has used Microsoft Dynamics GP software to process all core financial transactions such as payroll and accounts payable and receivable. This system also integrates with other Township applications related to property tax, land management, licensing, permitting, budgeting, recreation services, and human resources.
Recently, Microsoft communicated a deadline of April 2029 for sunsetting support of this Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. The Township is looking to replace and modernize its core financial software as a result. There is the ability to include other functionality, such as human resource or asset management but these would be considered only after considering resource constraints and potential impacts on the overall timeline.
This project to replace the Township’s ERP will be a long and complex process. Replacement of an accounting system is historically a difficult...
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