Kansas auditors predict Cabinet-agency IT consolidation to raise costs

The cost to Kansas taxpayers of consolidating information technology services in the executive branch of state government could increase by millions of dollars depending on the level of IT staff retained and the replacement of outdated infrastructure, auditors said Monday.

The Kansas Legislature’s auditing division estimated that continuing with existing consolidation plans for state Cabinet agencies could increase annual costs $2.6 million to $38 million, depending on how many of 230 targeted IT personnel were eliminated because of efficiencies and the unavoidable expense of addressing the “poor condition” of Kansas’ IT infrastructure.

“Their plan will likely increase state costs instead of achieving savings,” auditor Andy Brienzo told a joint House and Senate committee.