New York City As The Afghanistan Of Public Projects

SAIC, who not only overcharged New York City for the botched CityTime project but overcharged exponentially for the botched project, will be required to pay $500 million in paybacks and fines:

A major government contractor agreed on Wednesday to pay a record $500 million to avoid federal prosecution for its role in the scandal-tarred CityTime project, an effort at modernizing New York’s payroll system. The project was plagued by widespread fraud and weak oversight and became a lingering embarrassment for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration.

. . .

Mr. Bloomberg hailed the deal as “a major victory for taxpayers,” but the scandal remained a potential taint on the legacy of a mayor who prides himself on managerial efficiency and the power of the private sector to reform government operations.

The CityTime project, with its promise of millions of dollars in cost savings thanks to newfangled technology like biometric readers, epitomized Mr. Bloomberg’s technocratic approach to governing. City Hall officials say the payroll system, which was put in place despite the fraud, has improved a timekeeping operation once dependent on pen and paper. But the kickbacks and the ballooning costs raised doubts about the administration’s ability to police its many outside contracts.

And now the company faces a shareholder lawsuit.