Sen. Kanavas calls for creation of Enterprise Management System Development Fund

MADISON – State Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield, called on the Legislature and the Doyle administration Wednesday to create an Enterprise Management System Development Fund.

The fund would use existing information technology dollars allocated to agencies by the Department of Administration and segregate a portion of the funds for enterprise information management system development. New general purpose revenue would not flow into this fund.

“This fund is long overdue,” Kanavas said. “The private industry has enjoyed the benefits of enterprise-wide system integration for 10 years and the state is way behind.”

Enterprise-wide systems are believed to break down the walls between agencies and allow greater access to data by decision makers, as compared to the existing legacy system.

“I look forward to working with the Department of Administration during the budget process to make this fund a reality,” said Kanavas.

Kanavas introduced a budget amendment in the last session that would have required DOA to cut $40 million in information technology spending. The motion was designed to integrate human resource and finance systems, reform the state’s procurement processes and land information system efforts. The budget motion was passed by the Joint Committee on Finance but later vetoed by Gov. Doyle.