Key Lawmaker: Budget Should Prioritize IT Completion, Not 'Shiny' Tech

As the Florida Legislature works toward finalizing the state budget, a key lawmaker wants the state to prioritize completing IT projects more than expansion and “shiny technologies.”

On March 12, during a Florida House of Representatives IT Budget and Policy Subcommittee meeting, committee chair Rep. John Snyder, R-86, shared insights on potential technology funding for the state ahead of submitting recommendations to the Joint Legislative Budget Commission.

“Our responsibility is to take a thoughtful and balanced approach to investing taxpayer dollars,” Snyder said.

His commitment, he said, is to prioritize completion over expansion and to be methodical before committing funds to new projects.

“Our spending will be based on citizens’ critical needs first and where the proposed solution truly benefits its users,” he said. “We will demand accountability of the entities entrusted with that work.”

Regarding system modernizations and replacements, Snyder recognized the success of projects like the Florida Department of Revenue’s Child Support Automated Management System (CAMS) and System for Unified Taxation (SUNTAX), which, according to Snyder, are both on track and set to deliver “meaningful results.”

He also confirmed that the subcommittee will continue to ensure “the success of initiatives like PALM and FX.”

“As we embark on new technology projects, we must ensure that each initiative has a robust assessment and implementation plan before it even begins,” Snyder said. “While innovation is crucial, we must also prioritize the stability and security of existing systems. Our efforts should aim at maintaining core operations before venturing into untested, high-risk areas when it comes to infrastructure and hardware; the focus should be on investments that align with long-term needs and where proper life cycle management is in place.”

Lastly, Snyder noted plans to re-evaluate cybersecurity spending.

“It’s essential that we move away from the idea of simply allocating funds to cybersecurity and hope that it will automatically resolve issues,” he said. “Cybersecurity spending must be evaluated through a lens of measurable impact, not just cost.

“There is a tendency in this building to invest in the latest shiny technologies or tools without fully assessing their relevance or effectiveness, and with your help, committee members, we intend to break that habit before committing new resources. We need a better understanding of the return on investment.”