Mover Mike

Surprised? I'm not! The new computer system was supposed to save tax payers money.

The new software program was originally estimated to cost $31 million, including $16.9 million promised to Ariston and millions more to pay quality-control consultants and buy the software, new servers and other hardware. Now city analysts expect it to cost $49.5 million.

City leaders liked Ariston because it was small and they figured that the company would give the city a lot of attention.

But the firm's size quickly became a problem. Last summer, a consultant hired to do regular quality control updates told city managers that Ariston was working too slowly and that the city and the contractor lacked the kind of detailed plan necessary to get the new system working on time.

"Today, the City Council will vote to hire SAP, the software manufacturer, to finish the installation... Council members will also vote on borrowing $10.5 million to pay for some of the cost overruns."