The Mower County board opted to pay for technology over added staff Tuesday.

The board voted 3-0 at its regular meeting for the financial workers in Human Services to join Steele, Dodge and Waseca counties in going to an electronic document management system.

Commissioners Mike Ankeny and Tim Gabrielson were absent from the meeting.

The financial workers have long been tasked with high caseloads, and commissioners said the improved technology will make the employees better suited to meet the current high case loads.

Board Chairman Jerry Reinartz said they’ll be able to take on more cases this way. Without the improved technology, county officials expected they’d need to add three to four employees to meet their needs.

Though the move is expected to cost more than $150,000, commissioners say it will be worthwhile in the long run to pay for improved efficiency rather than added staff costs and benefits.

The board set aside $150,000 for electronic document management in the 2013 budget, but the costs could be a bit higher.

Steele and Waseca counties have already approved the move, and officials expect Dodge will. The four counties are the same four working on the Southeast Minnesota Human Services Redesign, but this is a separate move.

Commissioner Tony Bennett said Mower is one of the last counties in the area to switch to electronic document management.