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Jed Boal ReportingNo matter how you feel about Utah politics, whether you're conservative, liberal or somewhere in between, there is a consensus. Utah is doing at least one thing better than any other government in the nation.
Getting a hunting or fishing license will never be the same. Standing in long lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles could be a task of the past.
Utah.Gov, the state's web site has streamlined services online to save Utahns' time.
Governor Mike Leavitt: “It can easily and clearly be said that we have the best online web site in the country now as identified by independent observers."
The web site was redesigned and re-launched during the summer. The Center for Digital government recently selected Utah.Gov as the best state government web portal in the country. The governor and his Information Technology team actually aimed for the award and set out to have every service online that ordinary Utahns use. They also wanted to be the best at it.
Val Oveson, Chief Information Officer: “Government across the country is following the trend of business and allowing your customers to access business on line. That's our intent here."
One key feature that makes Utah.gov a cut above the rest is online support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you need help you can get it right away.
Governor Mike Leavitt: “Everyone struggles with time poverty. The most active hour for our online services is between ten o'clock at night and midnight."
File your taxes, renew your car registration, get a fishing or hunting license, even register a new business or renew a professional license, or search for a new job any hour of any day. It saves taxpayer money and taxpayer time. And more services are coming. More people are using the site all the time; right now it registers three million hits a month.
Utah.gov was selected from 260 entrants for the award. The Chief information officer will accept the award later this month in New York.
