In the government-to-citizen category, the Department of Labor and Industry took home the award for UI4U, the state's new unemployment insurance online filing service. The Department of Revenue won in the government-to-business category with Business Tax Express. The Secretary of State also received an honorable mention in this same category with its business entity annual reports filing service. All of these services are available at mt.gov, Montana's official state Web site.
The 2005 Best of the Web competition was conducted by the Center for Digital Government, an international research and advisory institute on the use of information technology in government. Now in its tenth year, Best of the Web evaluates government Web sites based on their innovation, Web-based delivery of public services, efficiency, economy, and functionality. The Digital Government Achievement Awards recognize outstanding agency and department services that enhance how governments interact and transact business online with constituents.
"Montana demonstrated tangible public value with results that make government more responsive to the state's businesses," said Cathilea Robinett, executive director of the Center for Digital Government. "Business and tax filings with government are now as straightforward and fast as online banking. When you can streamline a bear of a process from seven months to less than 24 hours, you know you are doing something real and in the public interest."
Governor Brian Schweitzer understands the importance of hard work, innovation, and return on investment. "Making government more customer friendly and efficient are cornerstones of my administration. These Web-based services are providing round-the-clock service to our citizens while streamlining government. I am proud of our state employees who work hard every day to make our government a better government."
Jeanne Murphy and John Hessler of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry accepted the award in the government-to-citizen category for Unemployment Insurance for You. "Montana is one of 40 states making government programs more accessible to the public through online services," said Keith Kelly, Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner. "UI4U provides a user-friendly system for unemployed workers to securely file unemployment insurance, status their claim, file weekly claims certifications and view and print a 1099-G, 24 hours a day and seven days a week at no cost to the claimant."
Business Entity Annual Reports allow corporations and limited liability companies statewide to file their annual reports. Secretary of State Brad Johnson said of the services recognized in his office: "This award is truly an honor, not just for the Secretary of State's office, but for all the people of Montana. By efficiently allowing businesses, large and small, to file their annual reports online, we have reduced red tape, increased responsiveness, and saved both businesses and taxpayers' money. The men and women in the Business Services Bureau of the Secretary of State's office work hard every day to streamline delivery of our services, both online and offline. I am very proud of their efforts, and this award reflects well on them."
Representatives from the Center for Digital Government, Government Technology magazine, and officials from the 2004 Best of the Web-winning state and local governments served as judges for the 2005 Best of the Web competition and Digital Government Achievement Awards.
The award-winning services are a result of an alliance between state government and the private sector. They were cooperatively developed and are supported by the Montana Secretary of State's office, the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Administration's Information Technology Services Division, and Montana Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of eGovernment provider NIC.
