Belleville Receives $1,500 Rebate From
LOCIS Software Development Participation

At the 77th Annual Illinois Municipal League Conference in September, Belleville City Treasurer Lindel L. Barker received a rebate check for $1,500 from League President Mayor Verna Clayton of Buffalo Grove and LOCIS* President Bruce Jordan for the city's participation in the LOCIS software development program.

LOCIS is a computer hardware and software service provided through the Illinois Municipal League to local governments. It enables municipalities throughout the state to serve their residents more effectively through the utilization of computer systems designed for municipal needs. Belleville is the first member municipality of LOCIS to receive a rebate for participation in the development of new software.

Belleville's cost of development for a new cash drawer receipts posting and tracking software module was $2,500. After LOCIS made available and had sold this new software module to other municipalities at a price of $1,000 each, Belleville was rebated the difference between the software development cost and the software selling price.

Belleville chose the Illinois Municipal League LOCIS program two and one-half years ago when the city replaced a computer system that it had outgrown. Beginning with a LOCIS system of four users and fund accounting financial software, Belleville has grown to 13 users and has added utility billing, residence inspection and sanitation department billing software.

All components in Belleville's system are integrated and expandable. As a result, the city has not been required to replace any software or hardware while increasing their system capacity by nearly four times. Additionally, LOCIS integrated a 600 line per minute printer from Belleville's old computer for use on the system, thereby lowering their initial hardware costs.

According to Belleville City Treasurer Lindel L. Barker, the LOCIS system is nearly "down-time proof", LOCIS user support has been excellent, and "all the staff is happy" with LOCIS services and products. "We get the job done," he says. •

October 1990 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 23