City departments using the MUNIS system were not able to pay invoices for a period of five days.
SPRINGFIELD – A malfunction with the city’s MUNIS accounting computer software program more than two weeks ago has brought problems including the need to restore data lost since June 9, and a three-day delay on veterans benefits.
Thomas T. Walsh, communications director for Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, said MUNIS was back on line at 95 percent, as of Friday. The Information Technology Department expects the system will be at 100 percent operation next week, he said.
The malfunction was triggered by a “hardware failure,” Walsh said.
“There has been no impact to residents and only a minimal impact on the city collector’s office employees who have had to use paper backup documentation rather than computers to look up some information,” Walsh said.
No data was permanently lost, Walsh said.
The collector’s office was able to accept tax payments, with electronic access to some data and paper records, Walsh said.
City departments using the MUNIS system were not able to pay invoices for a period of five days, but the delay “creating only a minimal impact” as it occurred during lighter activity, Walsh said.
The city’s Payroll Department also uses the MUNIS system but was not anticipating any issues, he said.
The MUNIS system was installed in Springfield in 2006, under the Finance Control
Board, designed to streamline the handling of payroll, departmental budgets, grants, purchasing and bids, work orders, accounts payable, cash management, and goals planning. It was aimed at being far more efficient than paper-based records.
The MUNIS system is a division of Tyler Technologies of Falmouth, Maine.
The Information Technology Department worked with MUNIS “to resurrect the data and with city department heads regarding any data issues they may have experienced,” Walsh said.
“The city’s IT Department will continue to assess the situation to ensure there is stability and availability of all necessary documentation,” Walsh said.