Finance

Plus, the Network Equipment Transparency Act passed in the U.S. Senate, San Francisco is expanding its free Wi-Fi network, Alabama has made progress on the construction of its middle-mile network, and more.

The county, which is home to Chicago, has partnered with AidKit to issue $1,000 cash grants to homeowners there who are facing sharp property tax increases.

With the average cost of breaches on the rise, cybersecurity must be regarded like any other disaster, according to the Local Government Cybersecurity Alliance. Residual costs of incidents must be accounted for, a co-founder said.

The company gathers procurement data and signals from agencies and turns them into action for sellers of public-sector technology. The investment is just the latest bet on AI for local and state government.

The Georgia-based firm, looking to expand, has won a “strategic investment” from Riata Capital Group. The move comes as more public agencies beef up their payment offerings for taxes, permitting and other transactions.

At the most recent gathering of state CIOs and gov tech vendors, talk turned to ongoing and looming challenges posed by federal budget cuts. Tech leaders gave guidance about how to keep moving forward as problems mount.

At the annual gathering of state CIOs, public-sector tech leaders offered tips about better procurement, including more use of master contracts. They also detailed what they are doing better.

The company, which sells financial management software to public agencies, recently bought coUrbanize. The deal is paying off with Gravity’s newest product offerings. Its CEO gives the details.

Plus, a digital inclusion nonprofit filed a lawsuit challenging the repeal of the Digital Equity Act, a new class of Vermont broadband technicians have graduated, New Mexico is expanding public Wi-Fi, and more.

A new report from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers examines the role of state chief data officer with perspective from 27 people occupying that position, on everything from experience to funding.

City Council members unanimously approved a motion to amend the city’s Homeless Action Plan with AI-generated recommendations from ChatGPT. The shift restricts how public funds can be used.

Plus, a new Arizona partnership aims to expand Internet access in the state along Interstate 17; Cook County, Ill., is planning a learning symposium event for Digital Inclusion Week; and more.

The company joins a handful of other government technology suppliers that are publicly traded. Via, which was founded in 2012, could now be on the hunt for acquisitions, according to its CEO.

The newest fund from Veritas raised 35 percent more capital than the previous fund, which closed in 2022. The news comes amid a robust time for investment and mergers in government technology.

A month after a ransomware attack hit Minnesota's capital city, Mayor Melvin Carter is proposing a $1 million cyber investment. Still, the IT department is set to receive less new spending than many other departments.

The new virtual assistant uses artificial intelligence to respond to tax queries. The state Department of Tax and Fee Administration hopes it can eliminate the need to shift workers when call volumes spike.

The seller of software for local governments and school districts has launched three AI tools to assist in various budget processes. The company’s CEO discusses the move and where AI is headed.

It’s been a busy summer for the business of government technology, and the deals are not over. Gravity focuses on budgeting and compliance while coUrbanize’s specialty is community engagement.