Orange County Spent $842,450 on Failed Information Technology Plan. Orange County spent $842,450 to create an information technology plan that leaves out critical information and fails to guide the policymakers who are considering the county's future technology needs, according to a report from the county's performance auditor. "The plan does not achieve its intended purposes: to serve as an actionable road map for countywide IT operations and investments over the next five years," according to auditor Steve Danley's report.
For example, the plan does not discuss outsourcing, even though that option has been weighed, nor does the plan include any metrics to measure progress toward implementing a strategic IT plan.
The county's IT chief disputed the findings of the auditor.
This is not the first time Orange County has been criticized for its handling of technology. In December, Mr. Danley reported that the county had awarded $45 million in no-bid contracts relating to IT projects during a four-year period. In 2006, a $6 million computer mainframe was delivered to the county before the supervisors even voted to approve the spending. (Source: OC Watchdog, February 24.)
(Cal-Tax recommendation: The county already has taken the wise step of calling for audits of IT spending, and supervisors should be ready to act on the findings of the auditor, before more money is wasted on flawed plans or more contracts are awarded without competitive bids.)
Cal-TaxReports, March 15, 2010
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