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State Revenue officals say auditors' discovery stirs up controversy over meaningful program

January 25, 2005
By: Josh Hinkle
State Capital Bureau

This month, Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill announced the discovery of a warehouse full of hundreds of unused state computers. Josh Hinkle tells us why this discovery is old news for the new administration.

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In late 2000 or early 2001, the state purchased nearly $2 million in computer equipment, but a state audit conducted in 2002 did not mention any of the purchases.

This was all part of a Department of Revenue system called the Field Automated System for Titling and Registration or FASTR for automated licensing, titling, and registration of vehicles.

Revenue developed but never fully implemented the system in 1995.

Revenue spokesperson Jessica Robinson says the system will create immediate efficiencies and long-term budget savings by eliminating the need to enter data phyically onto paper.

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Contents: "What this would do is it would automate that system and it would eliminate that double duty and that double entry."

Newly appointed Director of Revenue Trish Vincent is now working to implement the system by June of this year.

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State Revenue officials say a recent discovery by Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill is only stirring up controversy over a program meant to create effiencies and budget savings.

Josh Hinkle reports from Jefferson City.

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The Field Automated System for Titling and Registration or FASTR is a project to automate licensing and titling of vehicles.

The Department of Revenue purchased nearly $2 million in computer equipment for the system in late 2000 or early 2001 -- which a state audit never mentioned.

Revenue never got around to implementing the system, so Governor Matt Blunt directed newly appointed Director of Revenue Trish Vincent to plan the system's implementation before either of them were sworn into office.

Revenue spokesperson Jessica Robinson.

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Contents: "The first phase that utilizes the computers and actually where customers start seeing the benefits is going to be introduced before June of this year. So actually moving that date up by about 6 months, so we can get that product out to the field as soon as possible."

Auditor McCaskill did not return calls regarding why she brought this "discovery" to light more than four years since the purchase... though, in a letter, she says it was because of a public tip.

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A public tip led Missouri state auditors to a warehouse full of hundreds of unused state computers this month. Josh Hinkle tells us why Revenue officials are saying auditors are rehashing an old issue.

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The Department of Revenue purchased nearly $2 million in computer equipment in late 2000 or early 2001 to create efficiencies and long-term budget savings.

However, State Auditor Claire McCaskill's discovery came as no shock to the Department of Revenue.

Spokesperson Jessica Robinson says newly appointed dirctor Trish Vincent and Governor Matt Blunt knew about the computers months before McCaskill's "discovery."

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Contents: "Auditor McCaskill had done an audit of the Motor Vehicle Drivers' Licensing section within the Department of Revenue after those computers had been purchased before the new administration took office and yet there was no mention of those computers in that audit."

Vincent says the project will be fully implemented within the year.

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