LAWRENCE CO. – Since May 2024, the Lawrence County Auditor’s office has been in a challenging dispute with AT&T regarding a billing error that arose when the county’s service contract was not renewed. The contract lapse resulted in the county being moved into a higher rate bracket, leading to increased monthly charges, including for services that were no longer in use.
Auditor Paula Stewart explained the situation, noting that the county was paying for 60 outdated or unnecessary lines. “Some were for old fax machines and lines in offices that were not being used,” she said. The total bill from AT&T amounted to $162,000, but after negotiations, the county was reimbursed $152,000, leading to the termination of its contracts with the telecommunications giant.
In a strategic move to cut costs, the county has entered into new contracts with ESI for its communication services. This transition will benefit the last three county offices—the Sheriff’s Department, Purdue Lawrence County, and Emergency Management.
Emergency Management has secured a one-time fee of $1,270.45 and a monthly payment of $225.30. The Sheriff’s Department will incur a one-time fee of $39,947.45 and a monthly fee of $566.80. Purdue Extension Lawrence County will pay a one-time fee of $1,019.45 and a monthly payment of $151.75.
These new contracts represent a considerable financial saving for Lawrence County as the Auditor’s office continues optimizing costs and ensuring efficient use of taxpayer funds.
