Altoona adds OpenGov Payroll to its ERP platform

The City of Altoona, Pennsylvania, has expanded its OpenGov ERP with payroll, becoming the first OpenGov Payroll customer in the state. The move gives the city a single system for finance, assets, procurement and people operations as it manages a complex union workforce and retiree benefits.

Why it matters: - Altoona now has a more integrated back office for payroll, finance and operations, which can reduce handoffs and improve data consistency. - The upgrade matters in a city with roughly 250 employees, five collective bargaining agreements and retiree benefit obligations that require careful payroll controls. - The deal is the first OpenGov Payroll adoption in Pennsylvania, a sign that other municipalities in the state may be evaluating similar systems.

What happened: - The City of Altoona added OpenGov Payroll to its existing OpenGov platform on Oct. 12, 2026. - Altoona's OpenGov environment already includes Enterprise Asset Management, Financial Management, Procurement & Contract Management and Tax & Revenue Collection. - The city said the expanded platform brings financial, asset, procurement and people operations into one system.

The details: - Altoona is home to about 44,000 residents in Blair County, Pennsylvania. - The city manages payroll across multiple systems and timekeeping methods. - Payroll processing must support police and fire employees, other union-represented staff and retirees with long-term benefit needs. - Altoona paused an earlier payroll implementation after encountering problems with a prior vendor. - City staff evaluated alternatives through working sessions and demonstrations before choosing OpenGov Payroll. - The city selected OpenGov because of its flexibility, intuitive design and built-in government payroll logic. - OpenGov mirrors existing workflows instead of forcing standardization, which helps Altoona handle five collective bargaining agreements and track pension and retiree benefits. - Chris McGuire, Altoona city manager, said the city needed a payroll partner that understands union complexity and provides hands-on support. - McGuire said OpenGov's configurable, government-focused approach was the right fit to complete the city's platform.

Between the lines: - Altoona's move reflects a broader municipal push toward integrated ERP systems rather than modular legacy accounting setups. - Payroll is often one of the hardest parts of local government software to modernize because it must align with labor agreements, benefits rules and pension reporting. - OpenGov's pitch to Altoona centered on fitting the city's workflow, not changing it.

What's next: - Altoona will use OpenGov Payroll inside its broader ERP environment as it continues operations across finance, assets, procurement and HR-related functions. - The city will likely focus on smoother payroll administration, clearer visibility into benefits tracking and tighter data integrity across departments. - Altoona's results may be watched by other Pennsylvania municipalities considering similar system upgrades.