“County government is increasingly leading the way when it comes to deploying technologies that matter to everyday citizens. Where innovation and out-of-the-box thinking used to fall to bigger, better-funded state IT agencies and the private sector, regional governments have turned their focus to being more adaptable and responsive to the technology needs of their constituents. But this year, the theme among the five first-place winners is not so much about a shiny, new technology as much as it is about knowing when and how to introduce it. Whether investing in new tools like predictive analytics, going mobile, or opening data to the public, these organizations are making very real differences in the communities they serve. This year’s 15th Annual Digital Counties Survey, conducted by the Center for Digital Government*, brings attention to this work and the IT teams making it all possible.”