Oklahoma’s state IT department asked lawmakers Tuesday for an additional $16 million by the end of the month.
Lawmakers ordered information technology service consolidation through the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for dozens of state agencies in 2011. OMES now provides services to more than 110 state agencies.
OMES officials said they’re behind on payments to various vendors and are more than 60 days late on $7 million in bills. Budget Director Brandy Manek said lawmakers last set information technology service rates for state agencies in 2016, when dozens fewer agencies went through OMES.
"This issue is exacerbated by the fact that OMES was reluctant to raise rates at a time when agency budgets were being cut. In addition, agencies are utilizing more services, and the cost to pay vendors continues to rise," Manek said.
Lawmakers asked why agencies constantly request for more money for IT services if rates have not changed.
"I would assume in most cases — and we have lots of data to support that — agencies are consuming — or doing more projects or adding employees or adding more technology. And so, in those cases, their costs absolutely would go up," said Oklahoma Chief Information Officer Bo Reese.
Reese said without the cash infusion, services will noticeably decline, or worse.
"I think we’re going to have an unfortunate ability to respond to cyber incidents, which continue to increase at a very alarming rate within the state," Reese said.
Lawmakers may ask OMES to tap a $5 million emergency fund typically used for building repairs first.
