| MOST POPULAR Will State IT Spending Plummet?
The projections for revenue shortfalls at the state level are trickling in, and in a surprise to no one, they’re not good. GT’s Associate Editor Ben Miller sizes up new estimates from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, and looks at what the impact might be for future technology spending. State CIOs from Idaho and Maryland, and NASCIO Executive Director Doug Robinson weigh in, identifying causes for concern and reasons for optimism. Telework Made Simpler
Every public-sector technology leader has a tale to tell about transitioning their workforce to telecommuting after the pandemic hit. It didn’t always go smoothly, with hiccups in getting licenses and equipment in place to enable large-scale productivity. But organizations able to take advantage of existing relationships seemed best poised for success. That was the case in Illinois, where officials called on a vendor they already used to help get them up to speed quickly. Drive-Through Connections
Very few cities follow the same path to connecting their residents. But 9,000-strong Gonzales, Calif., has a particularly creative approach. The agricultural community was able to help bridge its digital divide by way of Wi-Fi hot spots that residents could get by supplying their address at a drive-through window. The creative partnership, connecting thousands of residents, got off the ground prior to stay-at-home orders being issued in the state. Dashboards Tell the COVID-19 Story
Government Web teams across the country have been busy the last few months, creating data visualizations to keep residents up to date on coronavirus infections, closures and now reopenings. Santa Monica, Calif., has a dashboard on its site that also plots information like hospital availability and EMS activity related to COVID-19. Like Santa Monica, many cities are aided by GIS provider Esri in their efforts. | 