This year, state and local governments are navigating intensifying budget uncertainty while continuing to meet digital accessibility compliance deadlines and balancing residents’ expectations for convenient, responsive government services.
As local governments discern where and how to allocate already limited budgets, it’s important to recognize that meaningful technology investments continue to pay dividends well into the future.
By embracing platforms that can adapt to new channels (messaging, apps, and AI) without starting from scratch, state and local governments can future-proof civic engagement. They’ll also accomplish twin goals: update their tech toolbox to boost efficiency and savings while bringing the public along on the journey as informed stakeholders in the future of government.
GovTech Investments Yield Measurable Returns
Since it takes time and resources to fully modernize your digital platforms, it is important to be strategic and start with the platforms that can give you the biggest return on investment (ROI). A few important examples include a user-friendly, ADA-accessible website, resident self-service tools, and emergency messaging systems. Other modern tools include records and agenda management and permitting and payment workflow tools that reduce manual processes.
An ADA-accessible government website is a foundational element for the future of gov-tech. By April 24, 2026, state and local governments with a population of 50,000 or more will need to ensure their websites and mobile apps meet specific accessibility requirements outlined by a Department of Justice digital ADA rule. Smaller entities and special districts will need to comply with the same rule by April 2027. To meet ADA Title II compliance requirements, consider a website with built-in accessibility monitoring and fix-it tools that will help your city manage potential future compliance risk and avoid expensive remediation later.
Your ADA-accessible website will help every resident find information and access services more easily, regardless of ability. When residents can easily find information and complete transactions online, they don’t have to call or visit offices for basic needs. That reduces staff workload and administrative costs.
Second, powerful new resident self-service tools such as Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request management platforms and smart mobile apps for filing 311 reports let residents easily submit requests, find information, and check the status of ongoing projects themselves. This saves time and money for your municipality.
Finally, emergency messaging systems help reach residents exactly where they are, with the information they need to protect themselves and their property. This not only saves lives but reduces demands on EMS departments and the costs associated with emergencies. Research from Allstate and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation finds that every $1 invested in resilience and disaster preparedness can save communities roughly $13 in avoided damage and economic losses. Modern emergency messaging systems are a key part of that preparedness toolkit, helping residents act quickly to protect themselves and their property.
Build Trust and Satisfaction
With these tools, governments will not only save money and improve efficiency; they’ll also open channels for public engagement and increase public satisfaction and trust that is so essential to effective governance.
Understandably, it can be challenging to rally public support for investments in tech modernization when your municipality is strapped for cash. Yet the payoff speaks for itself. A recent CivicPlus® survey found that residents who rate their local government website as very easy to navigate are four times more satisfied with their city than those who do not, and they also report higher levels of trust. Prioritizing ADA accessibility sends a message to residents that their local government is committed to delivering information and services to everyone, regardless of ability.
Self-service tools help boost transparency with the public by speeding up your response times and making processes visible and trackable. Recent research also shows that 78% of residents support spending tax dollars on tools that streamline communication, such as mass notification systems.
The Future of Transparent, Effective Governance
As funding pressures continue, local government budgeting is not simply about cutting costs. Modern, ADA-accessible websites, self-service tools, and reliable emergency messaging systems empower and protect residents. These tools don’t just boost efficiency and expand public access to information; they build transparency and public trust when they are implemented with accessibility, privacy, and resident feedback in mind. All this helps leaders drive initiatives that enable their communities to thrive, regardless of what future budgets bring.
Brenden Elwood is Vice President of Market Research at CivicPlus. He oversees the company’s resident and local government research and focuses on providing actionable insights and data to enhance resident and community engagement using accessible digital solutions. In addition, Brenden serves on the City Council of North Bend, Washington.
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