MONTPELIER, Vt. -
Hewlett Packard will pay the state of Vermont nearly $8.4 million in what lawmakers are calling a deal gone wrong.
Gov. Peter Shumlin says this deal is reflective of bigger problems with Vermont's dealings with big tech companies. The HP deal was intended to modernize the Vt. Motor Vehicles Department's computer system. The Shumlin administration says this failure cost taxpayers $5 million.
It's not the first failed deal to cost taxpayers millions. Back in October, the Vermont Judiciary partnered with a Utah-based company to update its computer systems. The state lost $2 million in that deal with nothing to show for it.
"There's no question we can always strive to do better, but as you know we've brought on our own IT director in, Richard Bove. He's working very hard with the various departments of state government to make sure that when we make IT investments we have accountability," said Shumlin, D-Vermont.
The governor says he is satisfied with the oversight of projects of this nature. He says this HP reimbursement is a testament to the state's resolve to defend taxpayer dollars whenever possible.
