Outdated Computer Systems Threaten State Services
A Colorado state audit warns that a crash of an aging state computer system would affect nearly every agency – and stall payments for everything from food stamps to construction contracts.
The audit said there’s a significant risk of a crash because of obsolete technology and programming code.
Several other states face the same issue. Systems that handle unemployment claims, entitlement benefits and personnel records have gone decades without expensive upgrades or replacement.
Colorado’s Office of Information Technology wants a new system, or at least upgrades. But that would cost at least $20 million, and persuading lawmakers to provide those funds could be a tough sell in a year that promises millions of dollars more in budget cuts.
