The Sacramento Area Council of Governments Strengthens Controls Over Public Funds

How the Sacramento Area Council of Governments entered a "new realm" of ERP systems.

We have all public money, and we have to be good caretakers of these funds. Anything that implements stronger controls is a big positive for us.

Jeri Krajewski
Senior Accountant
The Sacramento Area Council of Governments

About SACOG

The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) is where local government leaders in the Sacramento region come together to advance three strategic goals, including ensuring equity for its residents, advancing the area’s economy, and protecting the environment.

SACOG is the only public agency representing all jurisdictions in the region. It comprises a team of 60 people, as well as a board of directors, which includes representation from each city and county. 

Together, they tackle tough problems that are too large for any single city or county to handle alone. SACOG assists local governments with various initiatives, including how people and goods move around the region, planning and funding large-scale projects, and ensuring adequate housing for its residents.

 

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The Challenge:
Disjointed Operational Systems

SACOG grappled with disjointed legacy systems comprised of separate modules for various functions like purchase orders, accounts payable, and revenue management. “They were all made of modules that bridged with each other,” Krajewski shared. “No one was an all-inclusive option." 

These fragmented systems led to inefficiencies and errors, and forced SACOG to use complicated workarounds and custom connectors. The goal was to consolidate these disparate processes into a unified platform, facilitating data entry, electronic approvals, and receiving purchase orders.

We are now into the new realm of ERP systems.
Jeri Krajewski
Senior Accountant
The Sacramento Area Council of Governments

The Solution:
Sparkrock's All-in-One System

SACOG began a rigorous RFP process, resulting in proposals from many different software vendors. Seeking a suitable ERP solution, they went through several demonstrations. However, most companies were unable to provide what SACOG was looking for, due to their reliance on third-party add-ons to provide full-service solutions. 

The stand-out competitor was Sparkrock, whose demonstration blew the competition out of the water. Krajewski remarked to a student intern, “We are now into the new realm of ERP systems,” after the demonstration finished. 

Drawing from her extensive experience with diverse ERP solutions, Krajewski recognized the transformative potential of Sparkrock. Its intuitive, easy-to-use interface and fully integrated functionality resonated with SACOG’s vision of modernizing its operations.

The decision to adopt Sparkrock was driven by confidence that SACOG staff would understand and adapt to its user-friendly design and comprehensive capabilities. 

The Outcome:
Fewer Errors, Greater Impact

Implementing Sparkrock led to fewer errors and significant time savings. With everything connected in a unified system, staff encountered fewer incorrect entries, reducing the number of corrections and modifications to be made. The system’s efficiency enabled faster data processing, eliminating the need for manual entries into ledgers.

Previously, SACOG struggled with transaction approvals, which needed to be completed through a mostly manual, partially paper-based process. With Sparkrock’s integrated features, such as contract attachments and electronic approval workflows, SACOG has strengthened internal controls, improved transparency, and enhanced financial oversight.

Adopting Sparkrock also improved SACOG's audit-readiness. Electronic approvals provide clear documentation and reduced discrepancies. “There’s good arm’s length transactions,” Krajewski noted, “which is better for audit.” This has minimized the need for corrections and reinforced confidence in SACOG’s financial integrity.

During onboarding, a dedicated Sparkrock team spearheaded the implementation efforts, ensuring that all stakeholders were aligned and committed to the same result. The migration was expertly handled so that SACOG was able to migrate to Sparkrock without any loss of information or disruption to operations. 

The system has saved me more than once.
Jeri Krajewski
Senior Accountant
The Sacramento Area Council of Governments

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