Dismayed lawmakers learned today that the state might have to scrap a new but flawed computer system for vehicle registrations that already has cost taxpayers nearly $11 million.

If the state has to start over nearly from scratch — rather than just making changes to the new system — it could cost taxpayers anywhere from another $10 million to $15 million, lawmakers were told.

Much of the information about the state's troubled computer projects already has been made public.

But today's meeting offered members of the House and Senate finance committees — in a rare summer gathering — a chance to quiz officials on the situation.

Consultant William Browning — whose firm was hired to review what happened with the registration system — said other states, including Utah, Idaho and North Dakota, have managed to complete projects on time and under budget.

But Colorado, he said, has a "terrible reputation" for the outcome of its computer problems.

The committee also heard from Gov. Bill Ritter's new technology wizard, Mike Locatis, who has been given unprecedented authority to oversee the state's computer systems. The committee also heard from Roxanne Huber, the director of the Department of Revenue, which oversees the Motor Vehicle Division.

Locatis outlined the efforts he has undertaken since Ritter took over in January from Gov. Bill Owens.

As for the Colorado State Titling and Registration System or CSTARS, Huber said the state is still assessing how to proceed. She said her department and the attorney general are talking to the vendor, Avanade, a subsidiary of Accenture, a company that worked on two other troubled state computer projects.

Company officials were unavailable for comment.

Huber put CSTARS on hold in April. Among its problems: It could not calcuate fees, which then had to be done manually; and the work that a motor vehicle clerk could do on one screen in the current system now needed four or five screens.

Huber hired Browning's consulting firm, North Highland Co., this spring to review the project. The firm in July released a scathing report outlining the missteps made by the state of Colorado.

Among them: Colorado's request for proposals was flawed and ambiguous, and the state in 2002 chose a vendor with limited qualifications and quality assurance issues, according to the report.

"I suspect the failure rests on the shoulder of the legislature ... ," said Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, who wondered how lawmakers can do a better job in issuing legislative directions.

bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327