July 05, 2006

Statement of Senator Robert Cowles on Decision by the University of Wisconsin System to Abandon $25 Million IT Project


“The decision by the University of Wisconsin System to abandon the implementation of their payroll and benefit system is appalling. The taxpayers have already sunk $25 million into the project, and will get nothing in return.”

“This failed IT project, which is another in a long list of failed state government IT projects, demonstrates once again why a comprehensive audit of all of these projects is necessary, and I look forward to seeing the results of the current audit being conducted on these projects when it is released this winter.”

“The state’s taxpayers deserve accountability from both their government as well as the vendors who are awarded these contracts. The government should not be signing contracts with vendors unless the contracts have the necessary provisions to protect the taxpayers. Vendors who do not deliver their products as promised should not get paid. This colossal waste of taxpayer money must stop now.”