Minnesota Counties Seek State Funding to Upgrade Outdated Software

Aging technology causes increased costs for taxpayers as workers fix errors and develop workarounds.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Minnesota counties are using outdated software that they say ends up costing taxpayers a lot of money when it comes to correcting errors and finding workarounds. Legislation is being considered this session to address the problem and provide state funding to upgrade the aging technology.

Why it matters

Outdated government software can lead to inefficiencies, errors, and higher costs for taxpayers. Upgrading these systems is crucial for counties to effectively deliver public services, but often requires significant funding that local governments struggle to secure on their own.

The details

Counties report that the outdated software they currently use causes increased costs as workers have to spend time fixing errors and developing workarounds. Lawmakers are considering legislation that would provide state funding to help counties upgrade their technology and modernize their systems.

  • The Minnesota legislative session is currently underway, with the proposal to address the outdated county software being considered.
  • Gov. Tim Walz recently spoke about the end of Operation Metro Surge and the trauma inflicted on the state of Minnesota.

The players

Tim Walz

The Governor of Minnesota.

Minnesota Counties

Local government entities in the state of Minnesota that are using outdated software to deliver public services.

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What’s next

The Minnesota Legislature is currently considering a proposal to provide state funding to help counties upgrade their outdated software systems.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the challenges local governments face in modernizing their technology infrastructure, and the importance of state-level support to ensure counties can deliver efficient and cost-effective public services to their constituents.