Dakota County: updating state computers can save taxpayers millions

The real cost of obsolete technology
County employees enter public service to help people. Instead, many spend hours navigating software that should have been retired decades ago. Updating an address or income can require re-entering the same information across multiple screens. Even a straightforward SNAP application can take nearly two hours to process because staff must manually input data into different systems. It can take months for new employees to become proficient.

The inefficiency is measurable. Just four known workarounds require the equivalent of 227 county positions statewide – 453,000 staff hours every year – costing taxpayers roughly $23 million annually.

That’s money not going to roads, public safety, mental health services, parks, libraries or property tax relief. It’s being spent compensating for outdated software.

Beyond dollars: accountability and risk
The consequences aren’t only financial. Outdated systems make it harder to detect fraud, harder to share information securely, and harder to ensure accuracy. They also increase the risk of clerical errors – and counties can face federal penalties for those mistakes.

Local taxpayers should not bear financial liability because state technology hasn’t kept pace.

As State Rep. Wayne Johnson (R-Cottage Grove) said after recently reviewing the system in Washington County, “What I saw was unacceptable.” He noted counties are being asked to operate on technology that is nearly four decades old.
On this issue, there is bipartisan agreement: the status quo is not sustainable.

A window of opportunity
I was encouraged when Governor Walz and senior state officials recently visited Dakota County to see the system in action. Watching staff toggle between screens and re-enter the same data makes the problem impossible to ignore. The Legislature already allocated funding in recent years to modernize these systems, but much of that funding has not yet been spent and has not translated into meaningful change on the ground. Now we need clear timelines, transparency and measurable progress to ensure that those dollars deliver results.

Modernization is not optional anymore. It is essential.

A practical path forward
Our proposal, which began here in Dakota County and now has support from all 87 Minnesota counties, focuses on three steps:

• Immediate fixes to reduce errors and wasted time.
• Bridging investments to improve data sharing while long-term solutions are built.
• A fully integrated modern platform where information is entered once and securely shared across programs.
  Think of it like checking in at the airport. You provide your information once. It follows you. You don’t start over at every gate. Public services should work the same way.

What good government requires
This effort isn’t about flashy new software. It’s about stewardship. It’s about supporting frontline workers. And it’s about ensuring families in difficult circumstances aren’t delayed essential services by systems that belong in the Dakota County History Museum.

Good government means fixing problems instead of managing decline, respecting taxpayers and demanding accountability for results. On this issue, leaders from both parties agree: it’s time for state leaders to work with counties and deliver.

Joe Atkins represents South St. Paul, West St. Paul, and Inver Grove Heights on the Dakota County Board. He welcomes comments at joe.atkins@co.dakota.mn.us and 651-438-4430.

View past articles from this year!
It’s time for the next Minnesota Miracle (January 2026)
What a new Minnesota Miracle could look like (February 2026)
By the way, I love your pizza (March 2026)

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