At the September 19, 2023 Board meeting, Port Commissioners approved to move forward with recommendation from Finance Director Debbie Smith-Wagar, to purchase a new ERP system from Tyler Technologies, a software company that focuses on bringing transparency, accessibility and sustainability to the public sector, while maintaining secure data practices. New to her role as Finance Director, Smith-Wagar realized quickly that the Port needed to find a more robust software that could better serve a local government, all the while giving them the ability to track more varied industrial and commercial projects. Onboarding a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system took 8 months, with the financial team at the Port making sure the system could compile the reports needed to give a clear and detailed picture of the chart of accounts. As an Oregon Special District, there are state laws that require specific reports, and the previous software was having a hard time keeping up with the growing and diverse Port project list. After months of checking that the data imported into the new ERP system was accurate, the Port went live with their new software on July 1, 2024.

During the 2025 fiscal year, the Port Commissioners were focused on the financial impact the lack of bridge toll revenue would have, as the tolls would be fully set aside for bridge replacement efforts beginning in 2026. With the help of the new ERP system, Smith-Wagar was able to present to the Port Commission a beautifully detailed report showing the financial health of each property and project. Commissioner Fox believes this reporting software is ushering in a new era of transparency for the Port and its constituents, “A year or so ago, the Commission approved implementing a new accounting/reporting system which for the first time broke the key Port assets down where we could see and understand their associated revenues and costs. This was unavailable in past years and commissions.”

These new reports will provide pivotal detailed financial reporting for Port Commissioners as they enter a season of data gathering for the upcoming Strategic Plan creation. Commissioners are now given monthly budget reports at each Commission meeting, which can be compiled far more easily than the previous outdated software. Smith-Wagar believes the months of hard work rebuilding the chart of accounts and the careful transfer of data, is well worth the effort for the ease of reporting, which is creating a clearer picture for the Commissioners as they make important decisions.  There are still aspects of the software that can be explored, but in the first year of use, Smith-Wagar is very happy with the software and its ability to provide quick answers to tough financial questions, “It’s a really cool reporting system.” Monthly budget reports can be found in Board Meeting packets, and financial transparency reports are available online at www.portofhoodriver.com.

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