CRESTVIEW — Three failing computers operating on Windows XP will be replaced using up to $6,000 from the contingency fund following the City Council's 3-2 vote.
Councilman Tom Gordon, who with Council President Robyn Helt cast the two "nay" votes, said the council would set precedent by using contingency funds rather than budgeting for the purchase.
On Monday, Councilman Shannon Hayes, citing security concerns after Microsoft stops supporting the XP system after April 8, moved to allow the city's technology staff to replace three crashed computers.
"Hackers will start hacking on April 9, 2014, looking for vulnerabilities in networks," IT manager Thomas Sutton said after analyzing the computers. "Not upgrading these computers will pose a security risk."
Gordon said his research found that Microsoft will extend anti-malware protection through 2016, providing time to replace XP computers through the budget process.
The allocation was less than City Clerk Betsy Roy's original request for $9,000 to replace 13 XP machines, including two in Mayor David Cadle's office, one in the clerk's office, one in Utility Billing and five in Permitting.
The approved $6,000 would allow Roy's office to buy a fourth, backup computer.
Helt said city IT staffers can reallocate her office's computer, which she doesn't use.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City Council approves replacing some failing XP computers