EDMOND — The state Legislature successfully approved this week the creation of a new central information officer to oversee the state’s computer systems. This is not creating more bureaucracy, in our opinion. Instead it should help solve several significant issues that cost our taxpayers millions of dollars annually.
One way to create efficiency in state government is to get a handle on information technology costs across the system as a whole. Rep. Jason Murphey, quoted in an Edmond Sun story earlier this month, said the state spends $340 million a year on IT needs alone. He likened the current program to shopping at 7-11 instead of coordinating purchases for more cost savings at a Sam’s Club. Buying in bulk and seeking discounts for those bulk buys just makes more sense at a time when the state has fewer dollars to spend.
According to an Associated Press story, Senate Majority Floor Leader Todd Lamb said consolidating computer systems and services has saved more than $2.3 billion in other states that have implemented the idea, including California, which will save $1.5 billion in the next five years. Oklahoma agencies faced with 5 percent to 7 percent budget cuts for the next fiscal year probably could use a few extra dollars created by IT savings.
Last week’s dust-up at the state Legislature over the new position failed to take into account several recent security failures at state agencies. Losing laptops and/or jump drives with state residents’ Social Security data seems to be a trend this year among state agencies.
Oklahomans deserve better security for their personal data from their government. The new CIO will be tasked with creating a systemwide strategy that should make our information more secure and hopefully will make state employees more accountable.
Some Democrats’ arguments against the bill include that it will consolidate tremendous power into the hands of one person. We’d like to point out that this person will be answerable to the governor, who will hire — and fire — for the position. In addition, this is no different from what happens in private industry. One person ultimately is responsible for the IT needs of most large corporations, and just like in private industry, the state’s new CIO should be held to high performance standards.
Others said the legislation is designed for special interests. Yes, legislators, we the taxpayers are a special interest and we would like you, our elected officials, to take a greater interest in saving our hard-earned money and putting it to the best use. Finding ways to fund our state’s technology needs in a less haphazard fashion, and creating policy that improves data security, are absolutely a special interest to most taxpayers.
We don’t envy the person selected for this position, but we believe in the necessity of the job. It will be tough going for awhile, but a streamlined IT approach should improve customer service to not only state taxpayers but also for state employees using the computer systems while achieving significant cost savings.
Our View
State CIO needed
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
If you read any of the letters to the editor in the past two weeks regarding Tuesday’s District 2 Edmond school board race, then you already know that this election is not about the individual candidates so much as it’s about what type of school board do Edmond residents really want governing their school district?
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OUR VIEW: Bright spots highlight 2011
Last year was mostly marked with grim economic news and continued worries for the future by most individuals and businesses. However, there were several bright spots that highlighted 2011 and they are good examples why Edmond continues to weather the nation’s economic storms better than most.
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City still needs a business navigator
At the outset of her first term in office, then-Mayor Patrice Douglas appointed a task force dedicated to helping the City of Edmond better understand the needs of small businesses in our city. This task force met for several months and released a number of recommendations for how the city could better serve this huge sector of its economy.
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OUR VIEW: It’s time to bring ME’s office to Edmond
The exhumation of Dwite Morgan’s body earlier this month by state and local authorities is a travesty and symbolizes what has been wrong with the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s office.
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OUR VIEW: HOPE needs your help
Stories like the one shared today by Oneka Parker on page A1 are both troubling and uplifting at the same time. It’s a stark realization that so many Edmond residents find themselves in crisis and in need of basic, everyday supplies. But it’s a blessing to know that someplace like the nonprofit HOPE Center exists to help residents like Parker.
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Our View: Sustainment center good news for Tinker
The Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base will now be a command site for a new Air Force sustainment and logistics center. Other changes include adding a three-star general that oversees operations at Tinker and two other Air Force bases.
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Our View: DHS needs an overhaul
A recent conviction of an Edmond foster mother has added fuel to the angry fire of scorn heaped at Oklahoma’s child welfare system. The system has been rocked by multiple recent failures ending in the loss of very young, innocent lives entrusted to either the state’s care or supervision.
In the case of Amy L. Holder, she was convicted of felony child abuse and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine plus a $10,000 assessment to the victim’s compensation fund with no jail time in the death of 2-year-old Naomi Whitecrow. Family members of the victim seethed with anger at how the system failed their young relative. -
Peters exemplifies service
This Friday is special for more than just a national commemoration of Veterans Day. It also will mark the induction of Edmond resident Oren Lee Peters and eight other military veterans into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame. The annual banquet will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Oklahoma Christian University. The ceremony also will posthumously honor 14 Comanche code talkers who made pivotal contributions to encoding communications during World War II.
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OUR VIEW: Brain gain plan needs to start earlier
Gov. Mary Fallin came to the University of Central Oklahoma campus along with State Superintendent Janet Barresi in September and touted her new “brain gain” initiative. The goal of the new program is to increase the 30,500 college degrees conferred annually now by 67 percent to 50,900 degrees annually by the year 2023.
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Our View: Time to look at what’s next
With voter confidence strongly behind city leaders, the Public Safety Center project can now move to the planning stage.
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
