State to start computer upgrades

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000 | 11:17 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Two overloaded state computer systems should get relief starting this weekend.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said Tuesday more than $2 million is available to alleviating the emergency.

The two computers are at more than 90 percent of capacity and that has slowed response time. It has not affected programs dealing directly with the public.

Terry Savage, acting director of the state Department of Information Technology, told a legislative committee last week there was "an immediate crisis." He added the loss of productivity is costing $75,000 to $100,000 a week.

The department had more than $2 million in reserve to fix the problem. Savage cautioned that he may be back before the Legislative Interim Finance Committee for more money to make a second upgrade to the larger computer.

That computer is used by the state Welfare Division for its NOMADS project, the Child and Family Services Agency and the Taxation Department. It is reaching capacity because of NOMADS, which has been in development for 10 years and is now almost fully functional.

The smaller computer model serves the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, the Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation and the state budget.