State funding kicks in for Minnesota counties to upgrade old technology systems

July 1, 2026 - 18:47

Starting July 1, Minnesota counties can begin overhauling the aging computer systems and online databases that power their daily operations. The state legislature approved $90 million this year specifically to replace sluggish and outdated technology that has hampered efficiency for years.

County officials have long complained that their digital infrastructure lags behind the private sector, forcing employees to juggle multiple incompatible programs or manually enter data that should transfer automatically. Some systems are so old that they rely on programming languages no longer widely taught, making repairs difficult and expensive.

The funding will target a range of needs, from modernizing property tax databases and court record systems to improving public health tracking and social services enrollment. Counties must apply for grants, with priority given to those with the oldest equipment or the most pressing security vulnerabilities.

Supporters in the legislature argued that the investment will pay for itself over time by reducing errors, cutting processing delays, and freeing up staff to focus on serving residents rather than wrestling with glitchy software. The first round of applications opens this summer, and officials expect the upgrades to roll out over the next two to three years.