Overhaul of state accounting system far from easy

A state audit on the overhaul of the state’s accounting system has found that serious problems remain that could spill over into the next administration and threaten federal funding.
The $135 million Project Edison began in 2005 as an initiative to replace the state’s more than 30 outdated accounting systems with one integrated system. All major players in state finance agreed the change was needed, but the implementation has been problematic.
The state government’s annual financial report was seven months late this year and at least one federal agency threatened to withhold funding because of the delay. Now some officials are worried the delay could happen again next year.
A review of public records by The Tennessean found that government employees resisted the change to the new system. An independent review also suggests there was insufficient training. And Gov. Phil Bredesen’s administration has criticized the software vendor about the company’s commitment to the project.