Almost 40 workers assigned to fix Minnesota's troubled multimillion-dollar vehicle licensing system will be laid off at the end of March after legislators Thursday rejected an emergency $10 million infusion for system repair.
The House voted down a DFL motion to allocate money from the state's Driver and Vehicle Services agency to the beleaguered Minnesota Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS), whose problems have meant long lines and waits for Minnesotans seeking vehicle services. Republican lawmakers had pushed back, saying they wanted to know exactly what the money would be used for and suggesting that Gov. Mark Dayton should find the $10 million within his executive budget.
When MNLARS was rolled out in July, its costs were initially estimated at $48 million before soaring to $93 million as glitches piled up. The $10 million denied Thursday was part of a further $43 million request made this year for continued repairs to the system.
If the requested funding were granted, total MNLARS costs would approach $140 million.
The state Department of Public Safety and Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) have overseen the MNLARS rollout. Officials from those agencies said they have added 101 fixes and features to the system over the past few months. Last month, they proposed a road map to fix all "high-priority defects" by June 2020.
In January, DPS and MNIT informed the Legislature that they needed another $43 million to fully fix the system.
MNIT said in a news release Thursday that it "will not be able to continue fulfilling contracts" for 39 contract workers who have been implementing MNLARS fixes. Those workers received layoff notices Thursday. Contracts will be terminated by the end of March, according to a letter MNIT Commissioner Johanna Clyborne sent to members of the House and Senate.
Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, chairman of the House Transportation Finance Committee, said in a statement Thursday night that legislators now will review the full funding request in detail and "take action as appropriate."