The local government survey of U.S. cities and counties reveals trends around COVID, remote work and digital infrastructure investments.
Local governments have done commendable work addressing urgent challenges to the way they work and serve their communities during the pandemic, while nearly all face revenue shortfalls, according to analysis of over 500 responses to OpenGov’s State of Local Government Survey.
The other good news is over 60 percent of local governments represented in the survey are either using or considering CARES Act funding and other grants to modernize their technology and processes and enable staff. As always, however, there is more work to be done beyond meeting first-order needs.
The goal of the survey was to learn where towns, cities and counties across the U.S. are investing now, and what gaps they perceive across their technology, processes and talent. Survey respondents represent 501 local governments, including 113 elected officials and executive-level public leaders, 238 public finance leaders and 149 public finance staffers from small and large towns and counties across the U.S.
What is clear is that, given operational needs, local governments must move quickly to align around initiatives and make critical investments if they want to take advantage of federal and state grant funding that is currently available to make needed investments.
OPENGOV/AWS | DECEMBER 3, 2020