Efficiency rarely correlates with headcount and budget. 9 years ago, our IT budget was $11 million. Today, it's a hair over $60 million. Adjusting for inflation, we should be around 13 million.
Most of the added budget has gone to bloated off the shelf software applications, retaining duplicate/redundant staffing from a pseudo-merger, and mismanaged consultants.
The OP has added a lot of facts in replies in this post, indicating that his staff was relatively lean (1 staffer for every 50 users).
But be careful in drawing too many conclusions from one instance of anectdata.
Most of the added budget has gone to bloated off the shelf software applications, retaining duplicate/redundant staffing from a pseudo-merger, and mismanaged consultants.
The OP has added a lot of facts in replies in this post, indicating that his staff was relatively lean (1 staffer for every 50 users).
But be careful in drawing too many conclusions from one instance of anectdata.