New IT strategy for Bracebridge could cost $2M

The town is severing its arrangement with the District

Bracebridge General Committee learned that their new IT strategy could involve severing the shared service arrangement with the District of Muskoka, in the September 2, 2025, meeting.

After an assessing the Town’s current IT service delivery, Perry Group Consulting, who was procured to assess both Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, expressed “widespread dissatisfaction of IT services,” including regarding slow paced responsiveness, a need for modernization, and issues with communication with staff and leadership.

Mayor, Rick Maloney, expressed.  “It’s a growing community, which includes increased demands, such as IT.

He indicated that the Town’s relationship with the District “served a purpose in its time.” He added, “Our demands have outpaced that service the District can provide.”

The consultant group reported that risks involve “infrastructure, resilience, decision making processes…business system support, operations, and an outdated Memo of Understanding (MOU).

They advised that working with the District will not improve their services and recommended moving to a third party as a Managed Service Provider and employing an IT coordinator for Bracebridge and Gravenhurst.

Options for consideration included enhancing the existing service through the District, sharing services with external partners, procuring a new market-based IT Service Provider (MSP), or implement individual municipal IT service delivery.

The recommendation is to exit the current partnership with the District and procure a new MSP.

According to the staff report, transition costs include an ongoing annual rate of $60,000 for licencing and additional services, implementation $90,000 for up to 4 years, Coordinator salary and benefits at $135,000.

It adds that other anticipated costs include $878,031 for Gravenhurst IT Services, plus $167,950 for their implementation and transition, and $947,627 for Bracebridge IT Services, plus $184,550 for their implementation, for a total cost of $2,178,158.

Perry Group advised that the transition taking place in both the Towns, including their libraries, and the District, can take up to 24 months, with the bulk of it happening within the first 12 months.

They added that the Town and library will have a shared management service provider, with security as a priority.

They also recommended proceeding quickly so they can progress with the new model, which will initially involve creating a transition agreement and selecting a new IT partner and co-ordinator.

Councillor, Don Smith, expressed concerns about the costs, asking what they will spend $1.6 million plus $500,000 for the Sportsplex on, especially with the cost for the municipal office only being $82,000.

Staff explained that the costs include infrastructure upgrades, AV systems, equipment and other systems in the buildings, signing, Sportsplex pool and other automated areas, security, and Muskoka Lumber Community Centre replacements over the next 5 to 7 years as a part of the long-term capital planning process.

Councillor, Don Smith, said, “To me that’s a lot of money.”

He added that he got the report Friday and being required to decide after the weekend isn’t enough time. He expressed that he recognizes the challenges the Town has faced however is reluctant to pass the motion without enough time for thorough consideration.

He said, “To me we’re looking at something that will have a huge significance… I’m challenged to support this today.”

Councillor, Barb McMurray, supported his view and his recommendation to defer the decision.

Council agreed to defer the decision until next month’s meeting.