by Janet Grenslitt | July 20, 2016 | Article from govtech.com
The Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) have announced the 2016 Digital Counties Survey winners. The survey, conducted by CDG in partnership with NACo, identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that save tax dollars through newfound efficiencies; boost transparency, cybersecurity and engagement; or innovate through unique and exciting projects.
“Digital counties have evolved to recognize the value of technology, empower their tech leaders and use new ideas to make life better for everyone who lives and does business in the county,” said Todd Sander, executive director, CDG. “The Center for Digital Government congratulates this year’s winners for their work to innovate, improve transparency and proactively address citizen demands and expectations.”
“Modern technology allows counties across the country to innovate, providing citizens with smarter, more cost-effective services,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “The Digital Counties Survey recognizes county innovations that truly benefit our communities and, by extension, America.”
This year’s first-place winners include:
Wake County, N.C. (500,000 or more population category): The county launched an open data portal to allow citizens and businesses access to a broad array of county data. The county also hired a data scientist to analyze disparate data sets and enable it to make more informed business decisions.
Sonoma County, Calif. (250,000-499,999 population category): The county’s technology group is fully engaged in supporting the county’s strategic goals, while an emphasis on open data creates citizen confidence in government and allows for meaningful discussions. Collaboration with other jurisdictions gives citizens access to all data from a single entry point.
Arlington County, Va. (150,000-249,999 population category): Arlington County reorganized its IT team into two areas – one focused on traditional IT support and one focused on innovation. The change resulted in several new technology initiatives, including new mobile apps and open data projects. The county also implemented a management structure composed of team leads (“team of teams”) to improve communications, goal sharing and production.
Nevada County, Calif. (up to 150,000 population category): Nevada County lost 28 percent of its staff during the recession. To offset the loss, the county implemented new technology to improve workforce productivity, enable citizen self-service offerings, and enhance organizational efficiencies.
Click here to see how other Virginia counties fared.
The Center for Digital Government thanks the underwriters for this year’s survey: Accela and Laserfiche.
Contact: Janet Grenslitt, Director of Surveys and Awards jgrenslitt@centerdigitalgov.com