By Mary Beth Almond
C & G Staff Writer

OAKLAND COUNTY — Oakland County was recently recognized as having the second most digitally advanced county government in the nation.

“It’s a great honor for the team at Oakland County, especially in the IT department, for all the work that they’ve put forward in improving our technology and the delivery of our services to our customers and citizens. We’re very excited to be recognized, and we look forward toward working toward number one,” Oakland County Deputy County Executive and CIO Phil Bertolini said.

The Top 10 Digital County Governments in America List is created from an annual study by the National Association of Counties and the Center for Digital Governments. The survey, which was first started in 2003, focuses on the technology innovations of the best governments.

Cathilea Robinett, Center for Digital Government executive director, said the Digital Counties Survey continues to document the technological progress and innovation of county governments, resulting in improved service to citizens and more efficient use of government resources.

All county governments in the U.S. were invited to participate in this year’s survey. Those that participated were ranked on more than 100 criteria, including online delivery, infrastructure, architecture, governance models and more.

NACo Executive Director Larry Naake said more and more county governments are utilizing the efficiencies of technology to deliver services.

“Across a broad spectrum of service delivery needs and budgetary challenges, counties continue to develop improved service delivery options made possible by technology,” he said in statement.

Oakland County tied for second place with Anne Arundel County in Maryland among counties with populations of 500,000 or more. San Diego County in California took the number one spot out of more than 3,000 U.S. county governments.

Technology is woven into the very fabric of everything the county does, according to Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.

“Our goal has always been to provide the best service possible so our customers can conduct their business ‘online’ rather than standing ‘in line,’” he said.

But this is not the first time Oakland County has graced the Top 10 Digital County Governments in America List. The county first appeared on the list in 2005 at sixth place, shot up to fourth place in 2006, and moved back to sixth place in 2007.

Much of the recognition stems from the vision of Patterson, who has pushed technology since he became county executive in 1993, Bertolini said.

“He continues to see it as very strategic to the organization, so our hats are off to him and the vision that he set and the support he’s given us to push or technology forward,” he said.

Bertolini said the county is continually able to save taxpayers money by working to produce collaborative enterprise technology applications that make the best use of resources.

“Our philosophy is ‘Build it once, pay for it once, and everybody benefits.’ This is the basis of our success with integrated eGovernment programs that benefit county residents, businesses and local community governments,” he said.

For more information about Oakland County’s eGovernment programs, visit www.oakgov.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond at malmond@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1060.