Proposal:

Redesignate the Network Printer Budget Item for FY 1996-97 from a Single Printer to Multiple Printers

Synopsis:

The FY 1996-97 Budget includes the purchase of a network printer to replace the Xerox 4050 printer. This action is to redesignate that budget item from the purchase of a single printer to the purchase of multiple printers. Staff has determined that, due to advances in printer technology, multiple laser printers will provide the best value for the AQMD at no change in cost. Funds for this purchase ($50,000) are included in the approved FY 1996-97 Budget.

Committee:

Not Applicable

Recommended Action:

Approve redesignating the network printer Budget Item for FY 1996-97 from a single printer to multiple printers, at no change in cost.

James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer

Information Management included a fixed asset item in the approved FY 1996-97 Budget to purchase a network laser printer to replace the current Xerox 4050. However, since the budget was prepared, advances in laser printer technology have made many of the smaller laser printers comparable to the high-speed production machines (like the Xerox 4050) typically used in data centers for centralized printing. As a result, staff determined that a multiple printer solution (purchasing multiple lower-cost laser printers and linking them through the network rather than purchasing a single replacement printer) provides the best value for the AQMD at this time.

The multiple printer solution provides all of the capabilities of the single high-speed printer plus the following: system redundancy, compatibility with software applications, support for a greater number of print applications, greater access for users, and more cost-effective maintenance (smaller laser printers can frequently be maintained in-house without the need to secure costly third-party maintenance agreements).

Proposal

Redesignate network printer Budget Item for FY 1996-97 from a single printer to multiple printers. This will place high-speed, high-capacity laser printers in multiple locations to provide better service to users and alternative printers if there is a printer interruption.

Resource Impacts.

Funds for this purchase ($50,000) are included in the approved FY 1996-97 Budget.