I'll put this as clearly as I can. Local units are currently using a plethora of various shoddy web solutions, ranging from outdated and vulnerable free scripts, modified versions of existing software that never went though the proper auditing and ending with solutions that are completely inappropriate for the job. The reason for developing a central system/database is to replace all of those local ad-hoc solutions with one that is built from the ground up expressly for the specific needs of such an organization - focus is put on maximum security, privacy, constant auditing and strict limitation of access. Individual units are incapable of properly securing their data by their own. Instead of a number of sloppy and potentially dangerous solutions the idea is to replace all of those by one system that implements the level of security otherwise not attainable by individual units alone.
OMG....that thar sounds like my local government .....and yours too


MLF