This January, Denver launched pocketgov, a user- and mobile-friendly website that brings municipal government closer to residents, saves money and reduces wait times for those whose issues require a call to the municipality.
Pocketgov allows taxpayers to communicate with local government via a mobile device or home computer. Residents simply sign up online and provide basic data such as email and street addresses. From there they gain access to information that ranges from property values to how to get a business license to schedules for trash collection, recycling and street-sweeping. Users also can sign up to have reminders of things like trash-collection dates sent to them.
Want to know where to go to get a driver's license or state ID? Can't remember whether you registered to vote? Just type in the question and pocketgov will provide the answer. Users are also just a click away from learning who their federal, state and local elected officials are.
The application also allows users to easily report problems such as potholes or graffiti by taking a picture and uploading it. Those without access to a camera can report simply by providing their location and typing a quick note describing the issue.
Pocketgov is adding new features each month. Recent additions include the street sweeping schedules and notifications, voter registration information and the results of recent elections.
One goal of pocketgov is to reduce the call volume to city/county offices; Denver officials expect to save taxpayers about $250,000 a year from the resulting staff reductions. But there's another expected benefit: improved service thanks to reduced wait times and allowing the remaining call-takers to provide better service to those whose problems are better addressed via phone.
Of course Denver isn't the only hotbed of public innovation out there. But it is showing that the wise application of technology can make a big difference in the way government does business.
This blog was originally published by Governing.
