An investigation by the Chicago Tribune in collaboration with Injustice Watch revealed that multiple large government contracts with Texas corporation Tyler Technologies Inc. in Illinois experienced significant cost overruns and delays. The contracts involved updating outdated computer systems for Cook County property records, the Circuit Court clerk’s office, and the Illinois Supreme Court. Despite initial collective costs of $75 million and projected completion dates between three to five years, the expenses ballooned to over $250 million, and two projects have not yet been completed.
Cook County and state officials approved additional funds for Tyler Technologies despite software crashes, missed deadlines, and performance issues. The projects involved millions in upfront payments with few consequences for nonperformance. In one instance, Cook County considered terminating Tyler from a property tax contract, but decided to stick with the company despite concerns. Meanwhile, the Illinois Supreme Court defended its $89 million contract with Tyler despite calls for independent oversight.
Tyler Technologies attributed the project delays and issues to leadership changes and lack of government staffing. While the projects were intended to streamline government technology and save taxpayer dollars, they have been plagued by inefficiencies and shortcomings. The investigation highlighted issues with the Cook County property records project, Odyssey system rollout at the Circuit Court, and the Supreme Court’s digitization efforts. The investigation also revealed political connections and potential conflicts of interest involving Tyler executives and government officials. As the contracts continue, concerns linger about the effectiveness and costliness of the projects.
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