State Officials Examine IT Project Problems
UW System Losing Money, Auditors Say
Updated: 12:40 pm CDT June 12, 2007
MADISON, Wisc. -- A special state task force has been created to look into the information technolog troubles that have emerged in the state in recent years.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportProblems began with a $30 million computer project failure for the University of Wisconsin System nearly two years ago, and the IT troubles have continued to pile up ever since, WISC-TV reported.The task force will examine the failed IT projects and decide what can be done to stop wasting taxpayer money.The task force met for the first time Monday, which is a couple of months after a state audit showed troubled or failed IT projects have already cost taxpayers $77 million. The Legislature is now scrambling to stop the flow of red ink, WISC-TV reported."When we pulled the plug on the project, all we had left to show for it was the lessons we learned," said Ed Meachen, the UW System information technology chief.Two years ago, a WISC-TV investigatve report examined the system payroll project and how it wasn't working -- even after years or work and $30 million spent. An official to the project said that the plug was pulled on it after so-called "11th hour audits" showed it could cost $60 million, WISC-TV reported.Meachen told the committee on Monday, however, that the system has new business practices and a brand new vendor. He said that the project is ready to start over again.This is just one IT failure the state is dealing with."The bad news is cost projections have ranged from $66 million to $116 million by the time this project is all said and done," said state Legislative Audit Bureau Director Jan Mueller.State auditors said that they have found one fiscal IT catastrophe after another in various state agencies -- many of which are still in the works.One example is that the cost of one problem at the Department of Workforce Development suites is expected to rise to over $46 million by the time it's all done, officials said.Another $24 million was spent trying to implement a project called "Enables," but the project was suspended last February, state officials said.One state auditor said that one huge problem is a lack of oversight by groups like the Department of Administration."It wasn't that they weren't supportive, but they didn’t view their role at that time as oversight," the official said of the Department of Administration.But auditors said that it's not only the Department of Administration that hasn't been properly overseeing IT projects. Auditors said that state law specifically sets up one committee in particular to "review information management and technology systems, plans, practices and policies for delivery of high quality services -- that are -- efficient, effective and economical."That committee was disbanded for some reason, though, auditors said. They said that they would recommend getting it going again, WISC-TV reported.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportProblems began with a $30 million computer project failure for the University of Wisconsin System nearly two years ago, and the IT troubles have continued to pile up ever since, WISC-TV reported.The task force will examine the failed IT projects and decide what can be done to stop wasting taxpayer money.The task force met for the first time Monday, which is a couple of months after a state audit showed troubled or failed IT projects have already cost taxpayers $77 million. The Legislature is now scrambling to stop the flow of red ink, WISC-TV reported."When we pulled the plug on the project, all we had left to show for it was the lessons we learned," said Ed Meachen, the UW System information technology chief.Two years ago, a WISC-TV investigatve report examined the system payroll project and how it wasn't working -- even after years or work and $30 million spent. An official to the project said that the plug was pulled on it after so-called "11th hour audits" showed it could cost $60 million, WISC-TV reported.Meachen told the committee on Monday, however, that the system has new business practices and a brand new vendor. He said that the project is ready to start over again.This is just one IT failure the state is dealing with."The bad news is cost projections have ranged from $66 million to $116 million by the time this project is all said and done," said state Legislative Audit Bureau Director Jan Mueller.State auditors said that they have found one fiscal IT catastrophe after another in various state agencies -- many of which are still in the works.One example is that the cost of one problem at the Department of Workforce Development suites is expected to rise to over $46 million by the time it's all done, officials said.Another $24 million was spent trying to implement a project called "Enables," but the project was suspended last February, state officials said.One state auditor said that one huge problem is a lack of oversight by groups like the Department of Administration."It wasn't that they weren't supportive, but they didn’t view their role at that time as oversight," the official said of the Department of Administration.But auditors said that it's not only the Department of Administration that hasn't been properly overseeing IT projects. Auditors said that state law specifically sets up one committee in particular to "review information management and technology systems, plans, practices and policies for delivery of high quality services -- that are -- efficient, effective and economical."That committee was disbanded for some reason, though, auditors said. They said that they would recommend getting it going again, WISC-TV reported.Copyright 2007 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
