$4 million later, there’s still no system in place.

Albemarle County officials have spent $4 million on software officials say will improve customer service, as well as streamline and modernize the county's computer system.

But $4 million later, there's still no system in place.

Known as Access Albemarle, the project has paired county officials with Microsoft to update and upgrade the county's software, and the $4 million spent so far has gone toward the total project, including software, hardware and consultant fees.

The bulk of that cost, $3.5 million, went to Microsoft for consultant fees and software. Other costs include reusable software and hardware and services to improve the county's business processes, at a price tag of $675,000.

The county's old "mainframe" system leaves financial data out-of-sync among departments. The new upgrades are supposed to eliminate problems and quirks, as well as make it easier to do analysis and pull out numbers, officials said.

The project, though, is running two years behind schedule because Microsoft and its contractors found the job more difficult than expected, said Stephen Koleszar, a School Board member who has been updated on the project. Officials are still hoping that they will get the desired return on the $4 million investment, but don't yet know if the project will be a budget drain.

The project began in October 2005 and was expected to be completed by June 30, 2006. A Microsoft official familiar with the project could not be reached.

"There is a certain amount of frustration on this, but I've had enough experience with software development not to be totally frustrated," Koleszar said. He said one big hurdle for software engineers is integrating the schools and local government systems.

Assistant County Executive Tom Foley said he has been meeting with Microsoft officials and their subcontractor to negotiate so that the county doesn't pay any more, but he said those discussions are ongoing.

Microsoft has hired a new subcontractor and is hoping to get back on track, officials said.

Supervisor Kenneth C. Boyd, who is also on the committee overseeing the project, said he's hoping the county won't have to spend any more money for Microsoft and its new subcontractor. He's not sure, though, that will happen.

"Our position is, we've already paid our part and we just need Microsoft to deliver," Boyd said. Boyd isn't sure, however, whether Microsoft will agree.

Boyd said he is eager for the project to move forward because he will be able to use the new system to gather more insightful financial data.

Foley said Albemarle has lost more time than money. Much of the costs, he said, the county will ultimately recover because the new software and hardware purchased will be used.

The project, Foley said, turned out to be too ambitious and the timeline too short for a complicated endeavor.

"We really haven't lost any investment yet," Foley said. "It's been more complex than folks had thought."