Written by Robin Minnick Photo by Jon Soles, Cumberland County Public Information
Back in the 1970’s computers were the tools of academia,
science and big business offices - places that dealt with data and numbers or institutions such as hospitals, banks, and retail establishments whose function was to receive money from the citizenry. Trial bank cards - what we would think of as debit cards today - allowed few transactions, mostly withdrawals at ATM machines built into the sidewall of the institution. If you happened to live in a town where IBM was located, computer usage might be more sophisticated. Your bank card might include a photo or a magstrip with data about you and your accounts. However, many places were still not computerized, even for business. Move along into the future, and government started to make use of these monstrous number-crunching machines whose talents were being amplified and interconnected with equipment that made data storage and photo identifications possible, notably state departments of motor vehicles. Taxes and record keepers got on board, and soon data and its manipulation was handled in large part by computer. With the advent and wide-spread use of the personal computer, the move has been on to encourage governments to make wise and efficient use of computer technology. As with any such movement, organizations form to strengthen such efforts, often with rewards and recognition for efforts made to utilize technology for community benefit. Fourteen years ago the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) partnered to
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conduct annual surveys to identify best technology practices among U.S. counties, including efficiencies that save tax dollars, boost transparency, improve cybersecurity and usefulness, or innovate in unique ways. CDG executive director Todd Sander was quoted in this year’s announcement as explaining, “Digital counties have evolved to recognize the value of technology, empower their tech leaders and use new ideas to make life better for everyone who lives and does business in the county. The Center for Digital Government congratulates this year’s winners for their work to innovate, improve transparency and proactively address citizen demands and expectations.” If you have ever used your home computer to pay a tax bill, check out your property boundaries, or peruse a surplus property list, you’ve utilized the technology Cumberland County provides its residents to access various departments and do business with them. You’ve utilized the technology of a county ranked fifth in its population category. To earn such recognition, Cumberland County launched a 2015 initiative to seek out opportunity to increase efficiency while improving operations and enhancing customer service in ways that ultimately reduce cost. Metrics were established to provide continuous measurement of performance and cost to allow for budget control. Another achievement was in implementation of new financial software and the ongoing process of transferring human resource data and business to modern integrated software. Also undertaken was a conversion to a Voice over Internet phone (VOIP) system and management of