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The city's IT department can be fixed for $1.7 million, chief of staff says [The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)](Gazette (Colorado Springs, CO) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 21--Colorado Springs has a new plan for its information technology department, and it's going to need $1.7 million more in the 2015 budget, the city's chief of staff said. -- The increase is for hardware and a redesign of the system, including close attention to network security, said Steve Cox, Mayor Steve Bach's chief of staff. -- Cox discussed the proposed IT budget Monday during a daylong City Council meeting to go over the proposed $259 million general fund budget. Under Bach's proposal, the IT department general fund budget would go from $10.8 million to $12.5 million in 2015. The issue: The IT department found itself in trouble in 2014. The city launched an internal investigation in January and put about a dozen employees on paid leave. It then cut 10 employees from the department, including its deputy chief information officer. The chief of IT walked out, and in June, the council learned that the head of IT security quit. Cox asked the council for $2 million in emergency funds to fix what was described as an outdated, vulnerable network. Instead, the City Council approved $1.1 million, saying it was not confident the latest redesign of the IT department would fix the problems. Councilwoman Jan Martin said that every new IT director has a new plan for the department and that has cost the city millions. Why it matters: For years, Colorado Springs has cobbled together hardware and software programs in the city's computer network. Last year the city hired technology architect Richard Valentine to assess the city's network, and he said it was vulnerable. The review of the network resulted in the city abandoning two multimillion-dollar contracts and a decision to redesign the network. Sticking points: In 2014, the city reduced its IT department by 10 employees. Bach is asking to add seven employees in the 2015 budget. Cox said the employees who were downsized in 2014 did not have the required skills to redesign the network system. "We had employees that designed a network infrastructure. It was poorly designed," he said. "So we riffed 10 employees, including the acting CIO." Some council members question how the City Council can be sure the new plan will work. "I don't have confidence that this money we are spending has been vetted," said Councilman Joel Miller. What's next? The council will host a public hearing 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday in City Hall, 107 N. Nevada Ave. Citizens can ask questions at the hearing or send budget comments via email to [email protected] or leave a message at 385-5986. ___ (c)2014 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Visit The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at www.gazette.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |