Develop
a Technology Budget
After determining the technical design and identifying equipment needs, the technology planning team is ready to develop the technology budget. The Massachusetts Software Council (1994) recommends that the technology budget include equipment and software costs, charges for setup and upgrades, network access fees, insurance, operating costs (such as phone lines and utilities), security, professional development for staff, and consultant fees.
When developing the budget, the planning team also needs to consider what funding will be available to finance the technology costs. Budget development and funding are interrelated strategies that directly impact the feasibility of implementing the technology plan. The planning team can use a budget development and funding planning table to determine the tasks and responsibilities necessary for determining finances.
