State of Montana hiring programmers to fix MERLIN vehicle-records glitch – State’s record on computer systems less than auspicious

The state Department of Justice http://www.doj.mt.gov/ is planning to hire outside computer software programmers to help fix the state’s flawed motor vehicle records operating system, and it’s also seeking to recover a half-million-dollar bond posted by the company hired to develop it.

The bill to fix the problems being experienced by the Montana Enhanced Registration and Licensing Information Network (MERLIN) could reach $500,000, including the hiring of the programmers as well as time put in by in-house computer staff, said Larry Fasbender, deputy director of the state Department of Justice, adding that the early estimate was a "guess."

The Legislature allocated $28 million for MERLIN in 2003 and $6 to $7 million remains in the budget to finish the project, Fasbender said.

By KARL PUCKETT • Tribune Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090602/NEWS01/906020303

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State’s record on computer systems less than auspicious http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090602/OPINION01/906020304/1014/OPINION/State+s+record+on+computer+systems+less+than+auspicious

Montana Motor Vehicle Announces County Motor Vehicle Offices Closed Monday, Tuesday to address significant technical issues that have occurred since full implementation of the Montana Enhanced Registration and Licensing Information Network (MERLIN) http://matr.net/article-34522.html