Local Government

At the first-ever South Florida Digital Government Summit this week, county leaders discussed how they're making use of artificial intelligence. Other initiatives include giving public-sector staffers access to Microsoft 365 Government Community Cloud.

The discussion followed the release of New York City’s first progress report on artificial intelligence, one year after officials released an action plan on the technology. Most items in the plan have now been completed.

Design of a $17.8 million broadband expansion project is expected to be done this year, delivering high-speed Internet to 2,175 homes and businesses in Monongalia County. Officials will use $1.25 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the work.

Drawing from his experience in San Jose, Seattle Chief Technology Officer Rob Lloyd seeks to address pressing issues like homelessness and public safety in a post-pandemic landscape, in the Emerald City.

The shift is designed to let the city offer more details about its 2025 budget, the subject of a public hearing Nov. 11. This is the first year Eau Claire has used the new budgeting software and, following state statute, it offers a print version as well.

The Albuquerque City Council has approved a resolution directing administration to create an artificial intelligence working group to develop an official city policy shaping the technology’s use. Residents will be among its members.

In a move to enhance cybersecurity and digital services statewide, the Indiana Office of Technology is offering no-cost websites to all local governments, using its purchasing power with Tyler Technologies.

Groveland Township leaders are working to set standards for a proposed battery storage facility before the state assumes control of project approvals. A recent state law effectively keeps locals from enacting renewable projects rules that are more restrictive than state laws.

After intermittent problems, elections websites in Florida counties appear to once again be operating as expected. Issues popped up in Broward County and in Palm Beach County too, where an official noted they had nothing to do with systems connected to actual voting and tabulation.

The Port of Walla Walla Commission is expected to decide later this month whether to sell 500 acres of land to Advance Phase for $32 million. Should the company go ahead with its $4.8 billion plan to build 16 data centers, it would rival similar ones developed in Oregon.

San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency has approved a contract with Hitachi Rail for a new train control system. The replacement will move the Muni Metro off 1998 technology that runs on floppy disks.

An advertisement being shown in a movie theater and headed to social media uses artificial intelligence to depict three people under the age of 25 who died from fentanyl overdoses. It was created by the city and partners.

Officials will use electronic pollbooks to speed up how they identify and sign in voters during early voting, when any location can be used, but ballots must still belong to their precinct. The tablets are not connected to the Internet.

After guiding the Texas county through the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Philip Huang, its health director, pushed for collaboration and long-term strategies to prepare for future crises. Data modernization proved to be crucial.

Internet service provider Archtop Fiber is looking to expand gigabit speed offerings into mid-Hudson and Catskill communities, officials have confirmed. The firm began installations in March for Midtown Kingston customers.

Officials at the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County said the entity, a water and sewer utility, recovered more than $826,000 stolen in a “vendor impersonator” phishing scheme. This, an expert said, is a rare occurrence.

Gov tech supplier Civic Marketplace is offering a procurement platform backed by AI for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The deal could promote more use of cooperative purchasing, according to backers.

The concept of a “smart city” or “connected community” has been around for decades, but experts argue the meaning of the term, and the expectations around it, have changed in recent years. Residential input remains vital, city leaders explain.