2002 Information Technology Survey
(Total number of responding cities and counties = 241)

See summaries of the technology surveys from 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998 and 1997

Two hundred and thirty two of the 280 cities and towns (83%) and nine of the 39 counties (23%) responded to the 2002 (seventh annual) MRSC Information Technology Survey. Of the responding cities and towns, 28% have less than 1,000 in population, 32% between 1,000 and 5,000, 15% between 5,000 and 10,000, 11% between 10,000 and 25,000 and 15% more than 25,000 (compare to actual distribution of all cities: 31%, 33%, 13%, 10% and 13% in the respective categories from small to large).

All but 9 towns now have Internet access. A large percentage (30%) of jurisdictions plan to upgrade or replace their financial systems in the next year. Thirty nine percent of the jurisdictions do not have a Web site, compared to 47% in 2001 and 52% in 2000.

If you work for a Washington local government and would like a listing of cities, towns and counties using particular software or responding in a certain way to any of the survey questions, please contact Fred Ward at MRSC.

1. Which software product does your city or town primarily use for your financial system?

Software Number Percentage ASP 136 58% Eden Systems 26 11% Custom Programmed System 7 3% Bi-Tech 4 2% Springbook 17 7% None 13 6% Other 33 14%

2. In the next year, do you plan to upgrade or replace your financial system?

Answer Number Percentage Yes 69 30% No 164 70%

Internet and Telecommunications

3. Does your city, town, or county have access to the Internet?

Answer Number Percentage Yes 231 96% No 9 4%

4. If your city, town or county does have access to the Internet, is it available...

Answer Responses Percent Via the city's or county's computer network 111 50% At more than one individual workstation 77 35% At one workstation only 32 15%

5. Does your city, town or county have a website?

Answer Number Percentage Yes 146 61% No 92 39%

7. Where is your site hosted?

Answer Number Percentage On a server maintained by the city or county 46 30% On the server of an Internet Service Provider 84 55% On the MRSC Server 6 3% Other 17 11%

Demographic Data

9. Population

Answer Number Percentage < 1,000 67 28% 1,001 - 5,000 76 32% 5,001 - 10,000 35 15% 10,001 - 25,000 26 11% >25,000 36 15%