A consultant hired to assess the state’s information technology systems found that many state services are not being performed or were less timely because of excessive backlogs, a lack of staff and an absence of technical support.

SAIC was hired by the Abercrombie administration this year as part of its effort to improve the state’s outdated and ineffective information technology. The consultant acknowledged that the report echoes many of the findings and recommendations of previous reports on the state’s IT struggles, but claims the difference is the support now of the governor and the state Legislature for change, the state’s hiring of a chief information officer, and the establishment of a state Office of Information Management and Technology.

The consultant found that lagging state services include elevator inspections, incoming animal and agricultural inspections and cybersecurity assessments. The consultant also found that the state has still not finalized its comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2010. Fiscal year 2012 began in July.

Sanjeev "Sonny" Bhagowalia, the state’s chief information officer, said the IT transformation could take a decade to complete.

"A complete transformation of technology — from where we are today to where we want to be — will probably take eight to 10 years of working collaboratively with all stakeholders to realize the full benefits," he said in a statement. "However, our actions will fundamentally change the way the government works in Hawaii. Given the state’s budget constraints, we need to prioritize our next steps in order to maximize the funding opportunities and resources that currently exist."