Middleboro saves time, money with new budget software

MIDDLEBORO — A new bookkeeping tool will help Middleboro balance its budget more efficiently and economically.

Town Manager James McGrail and his assistant Jim Mulcahy gave an overview of PatternStream, the town's new accounting software, during a Monday, Jan. 12 presentation. 

Mulcahy said in years past, departments would collect budget data throughout the year and input it into a document for residents to see annual expenditures and revenue. 

However, the new software collects data as it is entered in the town’s online system and displays it in real time. Mulcahy said this not only saves time by automating the process, but also gives residents access to ever-changing and more in-depth information. 

He described the previous bookkeeping document as a product the town worked to finish each year, compared to the new system that updates throughout the year.

“It's not just that we're creating a book like we did in the past, and this is just a new platform,” he said. “There's different pieces to it that you can view in real time as we have the data.”

He said this new system makes financial information “more consumable” and easier to present and share. 

When inputting data, employees can create and customize graphs to make what can sometimes be confusing information more understandable and straightforward.

“Because it's so efficient, we can drill down as a team and make it the best possible book it can be,” Mulcahy said. “What we're finding is it's a phenomenal tool.”

It's also saving the town money.

The contract for the new system cost the town about $50,000 less than what it paid for OpenGov, its previous accounting software. 

McGrail said the town had to adjust its usual annual budget preparation timeline to account for transferring to a new system and to allow time to train employees on its use.

He said despite this learning curve the town has stayed on the timeline he laid out for the Select Board during summer 2025. 

“We're heading in a good direction right now with the budget," McGrail said. "My goal is to have it balanced by the end of this week, and then start working on finalizing the budget book over the next few weeks.”

McGrail said the new accounting system will be viewable by Friday, Jan. 30 ahead of Middleboro’s Annual Town Meeting.