Seth Ford, legislative liaison for the Department of Personnel and Administration, told the Joint Technology Committee the payroll modernization project is a multiyear effort and that delaying it could prevent implementation of the Colorado WINS step‑pay program.

"This is a multiyear project," Ford said, adding that if payroll modernization stalls "we would be unable to implement the new step pay program." He told members that the project and the step‑pay changes are closely linked and that timing affects implementation of negotiated compensation changes.

Several committee members questioned whether the full requested sum should move forward now or whether the department could identify a smaller package that preserves core functionality. Senator Marchman urged the department to quantify what could be done for a smaller amount, saying she would prefer no more than about $3.5 million if that avoids jeopardizing other budget priorities.

"I think that we should ask the department to, to tell us what they can do with $3,000,000 versus $13,000,000," Marchman said, asking for a comparison that would let the committee weigh potential tradeoffs. Senator Marchman and other members asked staff and agency representatives to produce a formal response on what a reduced appropriation would permit and whether cutting funding would trigger renegotiation of the partnership agreement tied to Colorado WINS.

Ford warned the committee that materially reducing the immediate funding would likely extend the project beyond the current partnership agreement and could force renegotiation. He said the state’s legacy payroll system (CPPS) is aging, built in COBOL, and that continuing to support it requires recurring expense for specialized maintenance.

"From an efficiency perspective, continuing with the project and getting it done as soon as possible is a long term savings," Ford said, noting risks associated with the current system’s obsolescence.

The transcript records discussion and requests for follow‑up analysis but no formal vote. Committee members said they would include a footnote or recommendation about the payroll request for the Joint Budget Committee to consider in the broader context of the Colorado WINS negotiations.