PHOENIX -- A Web conference controversy is brewing at the state capitol as lawmakers consider spending millions of taxpayer dollars on new computer technology.

Nevertheless, some local governments believe buying the software would be a waste of money.

Arizona Senate Bill 1001 proposes requiring every state government agency and school to purchase Web and video conference software.

"Sometimes, you have to spend a little money to make a lot more," said state Sen. Jim Waring (R-District 7), who is sponsoring the bill.

However, Waring was reluctant to put a price tag on the cost of his proposal.

"We don't know how much (it will cost)," he said. "We might go with the cheapest vendor, but maybe there's some benefit to going with a different vendor. I don't know. That's not for me to say. As a state senator, I don't pick which company would do this," he said.

James Powers, CEO of iLinc, a company that provides web conferencing software the state has already purchased, also refused to say just how many taxpayer dollars it would cost to give every government worker access to his technology.

Powers said, "There could be many variations to (the bill), so we certainly have not prepared estimates at this time."

Sen. Waring did say how much the state has saved from the technology. Officials say the state invested about $400,000 on Web conferencing software for 14 agencies in 2008. It saved close to $4 million in road travel costs to and from meetings.

Nevertheless, Phoenix government relations director Karen Peters thinks the savings would be less and the cost far higher to buy Web conferencing software for the city.

Peters said, "We are implementing web conferencing for our employees that would use it. We don't really need to be training our field workers to use Web conference software, but this bill would require us to do that. "

Peters said, "It you were to extrapolate and to figure out what just the software licensing would be to comply with this mandate, it would be tens of million of dollars."

She added, "We just can't afford any unfunded mandates right now. "

SB 1001 is currently being discussed during budget meetings held at the state legislature.