The Center for Digital Government has named Lincoln the nation's top "digital city," it was announced Thursday.
the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, November 7, 2007 6:00 pm
The Center for Digital Government has named Lincoln the nation's top "digital city," it was announced Thursday.Mayor Chris Beutler made the announcement Thursday at the Nebraska Digital Government Summit in Lincoln.
The center, a national research and advisory institute on information technology in government and education, ranked Lincoln first among cities with populations from 125,000 to 249,000.
Lincoln has finished in the top ten six of the last seven years. InterLinc, the City-County Web site marks its 12th anniversary next month. The site averages about 5 million page views per month.
“We continue to make great strides in using technology to improve the way government works,” Beutler said. “When citizens can access our services online, it’s more convenient for them and often more cost-effective for the city."
He said that as Lincoln grows, technology can help meet the increased demand for services.
Citizens can use the site to buy season swimming pool passes, renew pet licenses, buy Husker parking, reload parking garage cards, conduct local criminal history checks and pay water bills and parking tickets. Lancaster County offers the ability to pay property taxes online, however, a credit card fee is required.
Doug Thomas, Information Services Division Manager, said many cities require a fee for making Internet payments, but all of the City’s e-pay services offer an option to pay with no convenience fees added.
The County/City Building and all public libraries offer free wireless Internet capability. Last year, the city equipped the new Government Square Park at 10th and O streets with free wireless Internet.
More than 300 cities participate in the annual study that assesses how local governments use information technology to streamline operations and deliver services. The study focused on the implementation of online services, planning and governance, and infrastructure and architecture.