Baltimore County, MD BCUpFront, 22 Feb 2011

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From YouTube: Technology Strategy

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Towson, Md. (February 22, 2011) -- County Executive Kevin Kamenetz today announced a package of twenty-three technology initiatives that his administration plans to implement quickly to reduce costs, improve efficiency and speed up customer service. These projects span County government; automating work processes to allow faster turnaround times, better information sharing and increased public access to information. Kamenetz said the County expects to recoup its full investment of $5 million in implementation costs within three to five years, with ongoing savings projected well into the future.

"We delved into agency workflows and came up with ways to take advantage of technology to streamline our processes, reduce duplication of effort and provide instant access to information among related departments," said County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. "This translates into real savings in dollars and time for our agencies as well as the taxpayers we serve."

Kamenetz highlighted an array of improvements including an online constituent services portal; a broad computer platform to automate field inspections and licensing and 24-hour access for CountyRide scheduling requests; as well as the improvement of several internal functions involving employee training, desktop computing and pension management. The County Executive emphasized projects that will enhance public safety like providing the ability for police officers to submit reports and generate citations in the field and a multi-agency system to coordinate the booking and processing of offenders.

Two projects focus on improving citizen access to important land use functions. Next year's 2012 Comprehensive Zoning Map Process will be easier and faster for citizens thanks to planned improvements to the online application. Plus, people with average computer literacy will soon be able to easily glean valuable data from the County's GIS system because of a complete redesign of the County's "My Neighborhood" web feature.

"These technology advances are beneficial from a fiscal perspective and they will clearly make it easier for our residents to interact with their government," said Baltimore County Council Chair John Olszewski, Sr.

Prior to taking office, Kamenetz asked Director of Information Technology, Rob Stradling, to partner with the Office of Budget and Finance to review specific operations in County government that could be enhanced through a more effective use of technology. Today's announcement is the result of a comprehensive approach to prioritizing high-impact technology initiatives that can be implemented in a timely manner. The full report is available on the county's web site at www.baltimorecountymd.gov/TechnologyReport0211.pdf.

A

I'm very pleased to announce today the issuance of our technology report that is identifying 23 recommendations that will bring baltimore county well into the future. That will allow us to make use of technology to increase productivity as well as save taxpayer dollars, and I'm proud to introduce the author of that report. Our county's dedicated the office of information technology Rob straddling Rob lon, should give us a sense of what the overview of this particular project is and I know that it before you talk.

A

I did want to tell you that we expect to implement these processes within the next six months to 18 months. So tell us what this is all about. Rob moment.

B

When you came into office, one of the things you wanted to do right office take a look at, can we make it more efficient, innovative and look at the consolidation of some of our actions? Plus also enhance Public Safety. This was this is the list that meets that need. One of the other line was the within the next 18 months to be able to implement them, so we can actually achieve the savings and this budget cycles then.

A

You give us some examples: we're.

B

Going to be doing a virtual desktop, which is going to be able to basically reduce the amount of equipment that we have to put out in the field every three years. Just change that cycle to ten we're going to do an enterprise learning management system which will give ability for people to do training online. Very much like you had mentioned, like a University of Phoenix, which of allows people to do them in their own time. Instead of having to take off work to go to it to take those classes and.

A

They're not just taking off work, though they're actually being paid and being sometimes with overtime, so we're going to save those dollars and, in addition, make it a little more convenient. So police officers can do that work in their own down time, as opposed to having to take the day off and then having to be replaced in the field. Yes,.

B

Absolutely and the police department is first candidate for the system and, as you mentioned, it required to take certain amount of trainings. This will help allow them to do them as needed as downtime occurs, instead of having to take them off the field. As a chief Johnson to mention it actually gets some seven officers in the field back by being able to do this type of training, along with the savings actual bottom line. Savings I'll help pay for this system in the first year, good great return on investment, any.

A

Other projects that you want to bring to our attention absolutely.

B

I think one of the big wins is that we're going to be putting in enterprise solution in our land management area, and it's just the beginning. This is our platform that we're going to build that's going to do away with about 10 different applications. We have we've. The vendor is a seller. The applications refer to as a seller, but we're going to start off with permits and inspections area we're also looking at our animal control, eventually looking at any other land management areas. Well,.

A

It seems like a lot of tech talk. The bottom line is, though, it's going to save taxpayer dollars, make us deliver services more efficiently and effectively and make our county employees more productive at the same time. Is that a fair summary absolutely.

B

A

And for more tech information, you can always go on our county website that you're already on I hope and that's Baltimore County MD gov and visit us on Facebook Baltimore County. Thank you.