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Taxpayers to save $120K next year with Westmoreland's switch to T-Mobile | TribLIVE.com
Westmoreland

Taxpayers to save $120K next year with Westmoreland's switch to T-Mobile

Rich Cholodofsky

A new cellphone provider for Westmoreland County government employees is expected to save taxpayers about $120,000 next year, officials said Thursday.

Commissioners approved a deal with T-Mobile USA to provide service for staffers who use county-owned mobile devices during the course of their jobs, a move that will be contingent on tests to ensure the company can adequately provide service throughout the county.

“We want to be sure we can communicate, keep people safe,” Commissioner Charles Anderson said.

The deal will replace an existing contract with Verizon, which costs the county $16,000 a month for cellphone and mobile data services.

Dave Ridilla, director of the county's Information Systems department, said the deal with T-Mobile will result in monthly savings of $9,000. As part of the agreement, T-Mobile will give the county more than $16,500 to trade in Verizon equipment and another $16,750 as a signing bonus if the contract is enacted by the end of June.

Officials said the county has 281 mobile devices used by children's bureau caseworkers, probation officers, park police and other public safety staffers. No elected officials have been issued county-authorized cellphones or mobile devices, Ridilla said

The deal also will enable county officials to monitor phone usage.

“It gives us the ability to control what apps are downloaded and requires workers to have PINs, so no county information can be accessed (by unauthorized users),” Ridilla said. “There's no way to limit data usage, but we will get reports on all calls.”

For the last decade, the county used Verizon for its cellular service and previously had contracts with Sprint and AT&T. The deal with T-Mobile is the first contract with that company, Ridilla said.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.