“Electrifying Government”

1. “Electrifying Government” Building Tax Applications through a Self – Funding State Portal FTA Annual Conference – August 2000

8. A Different Approach Electrify Government Via a Self-funding State Portal Through a Public/Private Partnership

9. Common Challenges • Expectations for smaller government • Integrated and efficient government • Stay technically current • Maintain old, yet add new • Meet the external demand for information - unfunded mandate

10. Approaches To Electrifying Government • Do it all yourself • Contract-out specific functions • Form several “partnerships” • Form a true, mutually beneficial, state/city-wide, single public/private partnership

11. The Public/Private Model • It’s really about... • A vision and architecture for the future • Fiscal responsibility • Stewardship of information • Virtual government • Electronic commerce News Soundbyte: How to increase the level of government service without increasing the burden on the taxpayer?

12. Desired Outcomes • Single point of entry to the labyrinth of “government” - simplify access • Common and consistent “look and feel” • Resolve geographic inequity • Build interfaces to existing systems • Focus on interactions • Outsource the operations but control policy and content

13. The Public/Private Model • No state appropriations or grants • Self-funding through fees for value added services/enhanced access • Majority of information free (95%+) • State/City hires a Portal Manager • Portal- an extension of the state/city • Consistent with open records act • Governed by a board of directors

14. The Operational Concept • Information providers and consumers • Portal Manager is the intermediary • Marketing arm gathers requirements • Technical arm builds the interface • Commercially motivated consumers pay the freight for their requests • Focus on interactive government

15. Stewardship of Information • Information as a state/city resource - wisest use of resource • External demands - unfunded mandate • Leverage information w/ commercial value to develop a suite of useful fee and free information services • Information does not change, only the delivery • Agency remains custodian of the data

16. Electronic Government Over 100 interactive applications • Searches: architects, attorneys, child care providers, contractors, insurance agents, nurses, real estate agents • Business searches: attorney general opinions, corporation records, certificates and letters of good standing,commercial properties, court records, driver records, residential properties, UCC records,vehicle records • Filings: bid submissions, lobbyist disclosure statements, new hire reporting, public meeting notices, sales tax permits, water construction permits, UCC actions, vehicle renewals

17. How it Works • Umbrella Contract w/ governing body • Individual interagency agreements • Portal Manager builds fee based interactive information services: *Driver licenses *Vehicle records *UCC filings *Corporation filings *Real estate records *Lobbyist services *Business permits *Court records *County records *City records • Fee services require subscription agreement • Enhance/expand free information services

18. How it Works (con’t) The Portal Manager: • Sets up accounts, provides services, bills users, collects payments. • Provides revenue to the state or state agencies based on revenue agreement • Implements appropriate confidentiality and security procedures • Works with agencies to enhance and expand free information services • Reports status monthly to governing board

19. How to Make it Happen • Preliminary • Must have administration champion and legislative champion • Analyze current legislation • Introduce legislation, if appropriate • Issue an RFP or other suitable procurement vehicle • Select best qualified partner • Control the policy and oversee the process

20. Benefits to Information Providers • Buffered from users; reduces information requests; increases productivity. • Billing is a function of the Portal Manager, which guarantees payment, in-full and on-time. • Information is available to a larger market, which will increase revenue. • Information retrieval and security of access is guaranteed by the Portal Manager. • A unique public service the state can provide its citizens.

21. Benefits to Information Consumers • Buffered from providers; ”one-stop shop" for the information requester. • Portal Manager bills monthly; immediate payments and security deposits are not necessary. • Electronic transfer is immediate; do not have to wait on previous methods of delivery. • Wider range of services available from a centralized point. • Information is accessed faster, easier, and more economically. • Information can be used immediately for those information consumers who service customers directly. • The information is as up-to-date as the government's own records.

22. Results • Win for the business community • Win for the individual taxpayer • Win for state government • Win for the Portal Manager

23. Contact Information Robert Chandler – Network GM Information Network of Arkansas 425 West Capitol, Suite 3565 Little Rock, AR 72201 Telephone: (501)324-8901 Fax: (501) 324-8904 Robert@ark.org