City IT says cybersecurity funding extended by grants; department consolidates business‑application accounts
Summary
The information‑technology department told the Finance Committee it used grants and capital funding to consolidate application accounts, is maintaining cyber defenses with state and federal grant support, and has used AI‑based tools in antivirus and other systems.
The city's IT director told the Finance Committee on May 28 that the department reduced its operating budget this year by consolidating application‑specific accounts and shifting some work to capital funding, while continuing to invest in cybersecurity tools.
The director said the city secured a grant last year for just over $100,000 that has been moved into a capital project this year to continue cybersecurity work, and that additional state grants have supported antivirus and related protections. He emphasized that the city has used AI‑based detection in endpoint security products for some time: "One of our first antivirus products was an AI based detection system," he said, adding that IT will continue to update systems as threats evolve.
Budget changes included elimination of several narrowly named accounts in favor of a new citywide business applications account intended to simplify purchasing and maintenance. The director said the mayor asked for creativity in a tight budget year and the department pared costs while preserving longer‑term investments.
Councilors praised the IT staff's responsiveness and expressed concern about the small size of the staff relative to the scope of systems supported. The director said the department is well supported with grants and will continue to monitor cybersecurity threats and upgrade systems as needed.
