The House voted 105-31 to create a new Department of Information Technology to oversee the state?s technology projects, despite Republican opposition to the measure.
“It just looks to me like this is a growth in government,” said Del. Gail Bates, a Howard County Republican.
Bates took issue with it costing the state nearly $562,000 in fiscal 2009 to create the department, adding the fiscal impact was likely a low estimation of the cost.
The measure would create nine positions to manage technology services now provided by the Department of Management and Budget.
Gov. Martin O?Malley?s transition team recommended the creation of the new department and making the chief information officer a Cabinet-level position to oversee more than 50 major IT projects.
House Minority Leader Anthony O?Donnell, R-Calvert, also strongly opposed the new agency, saying a tight budget year wasn?t the right time to create positions that don?t directly serve citizens.
“At a time when the citizens of Maryland are looking for fiscal restraint, we are creating a new department,” O?Donnell said. “Let?s exhibit some restraint.”
However, Del. Dan Morhaim, a Baltimore County Democrat who chaired the subcommittee approving the agency, said a new department could potentially save the state about $22 million by consolidating the management of technology services such as data systems and disaster recovery.
“That sounds like direct service [to citizens] to me,” he said.
