MADISON, Wis. -- In July, News 3 reported that after spending $25 million tax dollars, the UW System's Appointment, Payroll and Benefits System is mired in problems and delays. ( Read Original I-Team Report )

On Tuesday, the state Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities started asking questions, but got few definitive answers. Rep. Robin Kreibich, R-Eau Claire and chairman of the committee, asked UW officials, "What would you tell the taxpayers of this state?"

The University of Wisconsin System president says that a lack of management and oversight by top-level system executives was a big problem with the controversial computer project.

"What we would say is we have spent a lot of money by any measure -- $25 million over 5 years is a lot of money -- and we understand the concern that anyone would have," said UW System president Kevin Reilly.

At the legislative oversight committee, there was concern over why the payroll project is still not up and running. The News 3 investigation found the complicated computer software project offline, over-budget and delayed indefinitely after five years of work.

Vice Chancellor Don Mash said the project is going to cost a lot more as it goes forward. Neither Mash, nor Reilly could tell News 3 how much more it will cost.

Who should be held accountable? Both Mash and Reilly told the committee that system officials made mistakes -- before they took over.

"We did not have the right project management skills and leadership of the project --including executive level oversight and decision-making," Reilly said.

When R. Kreibich asked if anyone had been disciplined in the UW System over the mismanagement, Reilly said, " People have moved on ... "

When Kreibich asked if those people were still on the payroll of the UW System, Reilly said, "Ah, some are, some are not."

"It's kind of shocking -- the way we find out or at least I find out about this was an in-depth TV story," Kreibich said.

When Kreibich asked Reilly, "What explanation do you have for the lack of communication ... that this thing isn't going as planned?" Reilly said, "All I can say is, I've been in office for a year. Don for less."

Reilly essentially inherited the project, and he brought in Mash seven months ago to try to fix what some reports said were serious planning and management problems, News 3 reported.

By the end of the month, officials say they will know how to integrate UW-Madison needs into the system, but it will be several more months before they can project a total cost and timeline for the project.

APBS is supposed to support some 40,000 system workers.