Survey ranks Utah No. 1 for utilizing tech in government

Utah has emerged as a national leader in information technology practices in state, county and city government.

A recent national survey ranks Utah No. 1 among states for its ability to utilize technology to transform government and provide services to residents.

The Center for Digital Governments also ranks Utah County 10th among counties with a population between 250,000 and 499,999; Salt Lake City is tied for second among cities with 125,000 to 249,999 residents; and Orem is fifth in the 75,000-124,999 population category.

"This top ranking is a reflection of our state's innovative and talented leadership that continues to bring Utah to the forefront of providing greater accessibility to government services through technology," said Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

Huntsman said the state's IT policies and practices made it easier to implement the "Working 4 Utah" initiative, which created a four-day workweek for many state employees. By working 10-hour days Monday through Thursday, the state can shut down roughly 1,000 of its more than 2,100 buildings on Fridays, saving taxpayers an estimated $3 million annually in energy costs.

"The unprecedented Working 4 Utah initiative ensures greater accessibility to state government before and after the normal workday hours," Huntsman said, "and provides an increased awareness of the more than 800 government services online."

Paul Taylor, the Center for Digital Governments' chief strategy officer, said the 2008 survey was one of the most competitive in the decade-long history of the state rankings.

Utah, which climbed in the rankings from No. 4 in 2006, stood out because of its commitment to ensuring that the services it makes available online meet the needs of Utah businesses and residents, Taylor said. The result has been a high degree of acceptance by the users of Utah's online services, he said.

"Gov. Huntsman has been focused on trying to provide better information technology and better service for (Utahns)," said Steve Fletcher, executive director of Utah's Department of Technology Services. "He is also focused on improving our energy efficiency, so our performance in the 2008 survey is the culmination of a lot of things."

In the annual city rankings, Salt Lake City climbed one place from 2007 to tie with Winston-Salem, N.C., in second place behind Lincoln, Neb.