Local Government

As transit organizations face hard choices related to reduced funding levels, industry observers say new forms of granular, location-based data will be needed to restructure for new realities and priorities.

In migrating to a more advanced digital platform, and moving off timecards, officials hope to save hours of time and eliminate inaccuracies and accounting errors. The timecard system will be retired next month.

The eighth annual Government Experience Awards celebrates jurisdictions that have raised the bar in technology to heighten the way they deliver essential services to residents with a focus on ease and efficiency.

The county’s $17.08 million budget includes what may be the last disbursements of American Rescue Plan Act funds. These include thousands for broadband, but the county is also applying for a grant to expand access to veterans and seniors.

The funding will go toward geographic expansion and development of artificial intelligence-based tools. The investment is just the latest in the community engagement space, a hot area of government technology.

The Riverside Co.’s acquisition reflects a belief these types of software will continue a growth spurt, fueled in part by governments adopting better tools. Cloudpermit says it has worked with more than 850 agencies.

The Pulaski County Clerk’s Office will go live this week with a new mobile text alert system, TextMyGov, to send important election notifications to residents. The aim is to provide up-to-the-minute voting information.

The $77,000 grant, awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Grant Program, will strengthen cyber protection across the enterprise.

Several new projects in Michigan, California and Florida explore the use of small, electric, autonomous vehicles operating alongside, or within existing, transit services. Public-private partnerships are key to their success, an official said.

The organization that popularized civic hackathons is now taking on the responsible use of AI in government. Code for America draws on the collective expertise of the public, tech and nonprofit sectors to tackle societal challenges.

National Association of Counties Chief Information Officer Rita Reynolds discusses the organization's comprehensive toolkit for local governance and implementation of artificial intelligence.

New York City Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez is introducing new legislation this week that would require the creation of a public list of the city’s approved artificial intelligence tools.

A lawsuit filed against a property management software firm has elected officials in the Silicon Valley city considering how to protect renters. Three councilmembers have proposed an ordinance to ban rent or occupancy-setting tools.

Statewide cybersecurity initiatives, like whole-of-state programs, are offering essential support to smaller communities and agencies. Backed by federal funding, they aim to bridge resource gaps and strengthen defenses against cyber threats.

Years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people in Deschutes County still choose to attend court dates remotely. The county moved to electronic filing in 2015, with video technology emerging around the same time.

Four technology companies are part of the city’s initiative, which is aimed at growing its tech industry and making strides in smart city and digital government work. A Living Lab facility is in the works.

Loo, who has more than 30 years’ experience in public-sector IT, previously led implementation of a shared portal infrastructure program for the county. He was appointed acting CIO in 2021 after the departure of CIO Bill Kehoe.

The city apologized and, on Tuesday, removed documents from its website with unredacted personal information on residents, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers. An investigation is underway.