BIT asks $14.3 million to sustain central IT as licensing, cybersecurity costs rise

Rupert Ross, director and chief information officer for the Bureau of Information Technology, told the Committee on Budget on June 23 that BIT’s FY2027 general fund request totals $14,329,386, with the priority of sustaining governmentwide IT services and reducing operational risk.

Ross said BIT now operates as the central IT authority for the government and supports 30 agency environments, 10 of which are fully integrated into enterprise infrastructure. "Our work is grounded in pillars of agency support, IT excellence and innovation," Ross said, adding that the bureau’s request supports 31 positions and investments in enterprise licensing, infrastructure modernization and cybersecurity.

Committee members pressed Ross on a sharp increase in license costs. Ross said the Microsoft enterprise renewal accounts for roughly $4.5 million of the miscellaneous licensing line, and that three‑year renewals and added security/AI features (including Microsoft’s co‑pilot/cybersecurity suite) contributed to the jump. "Microsoft pricing is influenced by contract cycles and reseller channels," he said. He added that BIT negotiates through local licensed resellers but faces market limits.

Senators also questioned staffing and vendor debt. Financial manager Kyla Joseph gave current actuals and VACANCY counts and said BIT was operating with several vacancies, some actively being recruited. Ross said certain technical roles — notably radio frequency technicians and cyber security specialists — are difficult to fill and that the bureau plans phased hiring to address gaps.

On public safety communications, Ross said the territory’s land mobile radio project has passed RFQ and RFP milestones and is entering design and implementation, and described it as a priority because it supports emergency coordination across islands. He also defended BIT’s role in consolidating agency services, saying the bureau seeks to increase economies of scale while recognizing agencies vary in readiness to integrate fully.

Committee members asked for more detail on license line items and vendor contracts; BIT pledged to provide a breakdown for the committee. Ross said the bureau will continue pressing for tighter procurement, stronger service tracking and improved agency engagement to ensure enterprise investments deliver measurable outcomes.

The committee took testimony from BIT’s leadership team and recessed before moving to the next block on the agenda.

The hearing transcript shows Ross making the request and describing licensing increases; the committee asked for follow‑up documentation on vendor contracts, licensing breakdowns and updated vacancy savings.