Michigan’s new political transparency portal delayed by months, company isn’t meeting state goals

Michigan’snewpoliticaltransparencyportalwasdelayedbymonthsamidgrowingtensionsbetweenstateofficialsandthecontractorhiredtobuildthesystem,accordingtoemailsobtainedbyBridgeMichigan. Theportal,namedtheMichiganTransparencyNetwork,ismeanttobeanintegratedsystemforcampaignfinance,lobbyingandpersonalfinancialdisclosures—providingthepublicaviewintokeyethicsfilingsbycandidatesandtheirelectedofficials. ButtheonlinesystemhasbecomealongstandingheadachefortheMichiganDepartmentofState.TylerTechnologies,aTexasfirmthatwasthesolequalifiedbidderforthe$9millioncontract,hasstruggledtofollowthroughonprojectgoalstoutedbySecretaryofStateJocelynBenson. Theemails,obtainedthrougharecordsrequest,showstateofficialshadmonthsofback-and-forthamidgrowingfrustrationwiththecontractor,repeatedlycallingdelaysandprogrammingerrors“unacceptable.” Whilethesystemhasbeenmodernizedfromitspredecessorandispromisedtofuncti