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unc70

(6,095 posts)
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 12:36 PM Apr 2013

Beth Wood needs public shaming for "sham" audit of State IT projects

State Auditor Beth Wood released an audit regarding state IT projects. (Wood was elected as a Democrat.)

http://www.wral.com/audit-finds-state-it-projects-are-late-and-over-budget/12368246/

This is the most misleading "audit" I have every seen. This is about IT "projects", not about contracts, performance, requirements, or anything else meaningful. It uses the cost estimate at the very first approval as a project. But only 84 out of 1,034 projects in the database even had an estimate at that time, and what those estimates mean varies.

The Tax Info Management Systems estimate of $525,00 is for the project, actual cost $97.3 million. I'd guess it was an estimate for just that first phase, but who knows. Clearly the auditors don't or they wouldn't go on about it without explaining. That's assuming of course that were were actually doing an audit. Some of the long extensions on project completion dates look like they reflect ongoing operation and maintenance of the production operations, with contract extensions.

The audit is based on the "sample" of 84 projects containing initial cost estimates. Despite statements on page 5 of the audit, this is unacceptable sample selection for auditing.

I expect McCrory to distort to promote his agenda. I do not expect the State Auditor to be doing that in support of that same agenda. Shame. This "audit" seems to approach professional misconduct.


I need a bunch of you to look at this and see if my outrage is appropriate. If so, we need to get an organized response to this because we have already lost this debate by default. Remember that McCrory campaigned on fixing the State's broken IT systems.


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Beth Wood needs public shaming for "sham" audit of State IT projects (Original Post) unc70 Apr 2013 OP
Sounds about right to me Abnredleg Apr 2013 #1
Did you read the actual audit? unc70 Apr 2013 #2
It would not surprise me to find a hidden agenda here,with the "fixes placing GOP operatives inside. Ford_Prefect Apr 2013 #3

Abnredleg

(663 posts)
1. Sounds about right to me
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 01:27 PM
Apr 2013

I've worked in NC local government IT for 20 years and State IT projects have always been a mess, with blown schedules and budgets, combined with crappy customer service. Over the past five years they have concentrated on project management and customer service, so things have improved, but they've got a ways to go.

Not to say that all the problems were of their making - they don't control their budget and elected officials often impose unrealistic requirements.

unc70

(6,095 posts)
2. Did you read the actual audit?
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 04:55 PM
Apr 2013

A link to the audit is at the wral story.
At the end of the audit doc is the list if projects in their audit.

I agree with you that the State is doing a better job overall, and many of the problems lately have involved just a couple of Hugh systems. At the top of that list are those involving Medicaid, ACA, etc. these are very large and complicated projects with every expanding requirements imposed on them.

None of that makes the IT systems broken.

Ford_Prefect

(7,822 posts)
3. It would not surprise me to find a hidden agenda here,with the "fixes placing GOP operatives inside.
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 06:03 PM
Apr 2013

Including a move to re-arrange the IT system that counts NC Elections. They did it in Wisconsin and Ohio and would no doubt love to do it here in NC too.

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