Governments Achieve Greatness by Utilizing Technology
By Steve Hamill
GENERAL MANAGER U.S. COMMUNITIES
NACO County News
We are privileged to live in an age filled with exponential advancement in technology. People use technology on a daily basis to make their lives a little easier. Governments, like individuals, can greatly benefit from the ever-increasing development of technological products and solutions.
In the first article of the Great Government Series, I introduced the concept of improved operating results (“IOR”) and the role it plays in the path to achieving greatness. IOR refers to new knowledge, ideas, methods or innovations that have been used by one or more government agencies to increase productivity, reduce costs and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, services and programs. Change is necessary to achieve IOR and the willingness to embrace technological change accelerates IOR.
Every day, great governments are using technology solutions to drive greater operational efficiency and effectiveness, reduce costs and protect their citizens and property. Cities, counties, states and school districts across the country are clearly embracing change and demonstrating IOR through the expanding use of technology.
Great governments have incorporated technology to help reduce their energy output, which in turn saves them money. Idaho’s Coeur d'Alene School District has 10,000 students, 1,300 staff members and about 4,000 computer workstations. The school district implemented a power-save system to turn off all computer monitors after five minutes of inactivity, and then to set the computers on standby mode after 90 minutes. This new system permits Coeur D’Alene to be more environmentally conscious and will save the school district an expected $300,000 over the course of three years.
Data management is often a burdensome, time consuming and expensive task that nearly all government agencies are faced with. However, with new advancements in technology, governments are able to reduce costs and save time. Until 2008, Marin County, Calif., which is adjacent to San Francisco, managed its property tax system on an old software platform that was expensive to maintain and difficult to integrate with other systems. The county then implemented a Windows-based server to manage its property taxes and was able to reduce costs by 91 percent by eliminating hardware, software and maintenance costs.
During this difficult economic crisis, many governments are faced with the tremendous need to cut spending. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders has been a pioneer in adopting technology solutions to control costs and save money. Sanders was responsible for implementing the city’s new financial management system, which cut between $2 million to $3 million from the city’s budget. In addition, Mayor Sanders recently announced that the city will save $1.5 million a year by outsourcing its information technology support needs.
Government agencies across the country are using innovative technologies to better protect local citizens. A number of city police departments have recently acquired and implemented ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system that uses audio sensors installed around the city to transmit the location of a recorded gunshot to police officers within the area. Rochester, N.Y. implemented the ShotSpotter system and was able to reduce gunshot activity by nearly 50 percent. Similarly, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has attributed a 40 percent reduction in homicide to the ShotSpotter system.
The Port of Miami looked to government technology solutions provider, GTSI, to provide a web-based physical security solution. The project provided a state‐of‐the‐art land and water‐based surveillance and protection system. The Port of Miami implemented GTSI’s Technology Lifecycle Management (TLM) methodology to ensure its technologies, products, and systems are current, enabling them to stay ahead of emerging and unforeseen security threats and challenges.
Throughout the United States, governments are embracing change and demonstrating efficient, effective, fiscally responsible and innovative ways of meeting their constituents’ needs. Using technology is another great example of great governments driving change and achieving IOR.
We view the Great Government Series as a collaborative and living effort. We welcome input from our government leaders and the public. If you have thoughts on great government or would like to share examples of great government in your community, we’d love to hear from you.
END OF ARTICLE
ShotSpotter contact |
|
Erin Lopez |
|
|