CAPPS — ERP in Texas

Benefits of CAPPS

Benefits of a statewide CAPPS include:

• Gives state decision makers a single source for reliable, real-time information that can be compared across participating agencies and assist with appropriation decisions.
• Increases ease and accuracy of reporting as agency functions are recorded in a common data language on a secure, interconnected system that allows financial and HR/payroll departments to exchange information quickly, safely and reliably.
• Provides detailed time and labor information on consultants hired by agencies.
• Reduces data conflicts often encountered when using financial accounting programs that lack integration.
• Allows users to estimate carry-forward or lapsing federal funds or grants. This is a difficult and problematic exercise at the statewide level today. A statewide CAPPS allows decision makers to track and monitor expected federal receipts and compare them against actual usage across agencies.
• Provides transparency. Legislators and citizens can know how participating agencies and institutions are spending the funds they receive throughout the year.
• Allows for enhanced system security and privacy. Example: CAPPS does not use Social Security numbers as identifiers.
• Addresses accessibility and usability. CAPPS is compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Allows for better tracking and standardization of financial information, such as:
  • – Fund sources and uses — The state will be able to identify the funding source used to pay for any item or service (such as appropriated receipts, federal funds, grants, interagency contracts, etc.).
  • – Appropriations/budgets/expenditures — Every state dollar will be traceable, from the initial appropriation to a state agency budget through the final expenditure.
  • – State assets and budget planning — State assets will be easily tracked, leading to improved budget planning and accountability at the statewide level. In addition, the CAPPS system can report on replacement schedules and costs for big-ticket items such as computers and vehicles, giving budget planners more flexibility in scheduling major purchases.
• Allows for retirement of the seven CPA legacy systems while offering better technology and data for the same operational costs.

These benefits and other potential savings will continue to grow as agencies adopt and implement CAPPS.

Until then, non-CAPPS agencies will continue to rely on the current statewide systems (such as USAS and USPS) and other disparate internal agency systems. Additionally, the state will continue to pay for maintenance and operation of duplicative systems that would otherwise be eliminated by taking full advantage of the range of CAPPS capabilities.