Using the Internet in local government finance.

• Author: Shuey, Raymond H.
• Position: Includes related article

The Internet is a rapidly evolving set of communication resources. It includes a variety of free or comparatively inexpensive services including electronic mail (e-mail), mailing lists or discussion groups, audio and video conferencing and broadcasting, archival and transfer of files, accessing a mainframe computer as a remote terminal (telnet), publishing, and live text-based discussion. Internet activity reaches into a growing number of businesses, government agencies, homes, and universities throughout the world each day. The low entry cost to contribute or utilize resources has created a medium that must be understood to be used successfully. As with any unregulated transaction, it is up to the consumer of electronic information to use sound, professional judgment in relying upon the product delivered. Likewise, the organization posting information to the Internet must recognize that the knowledge and skill of individual consumers of its products can vary significantly.

Since the Internet is not a single resource, its components can and should be used selectively based on the goals of the local government. The cost of utilizing the Internet varies based on intended use. An organization can spend well over $20,000 to establish a World Wide Web (Web) presence on the Internet for others to see. On the other hand, access to send and receive e-mail and view text of Web sites is free in some locales.

Accessing the Internet

The National Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN) provides leadership for a growing number of freenets throughout the United States. For those state and local government finance officers without other Internet access, NPTN offers a possible solution at the individual level. Through a freenet, the government official as a member of the community can send and receive e-mail free or at nominal cost and usually can view Web text but not graphics or pictures. (Contact: NPTN, P.O. Box 1987, Cleveland, OH 44106-0187; phone: 216/498-4050; e-mail: info@nptn.org; Web address: http://www.nptn.org) There also may be a local NPTN affiliate organization that can be contacted.

Technology departments of local colleges or universities also may provide assistance regarding freenets and other methods of accessing the Internet. Higher education institutions were the first users of the electronic network known as the Internet. A local college may be particularly helpful if the finance officer's community is isolated from a major metropolitan area.

Internet access in rural areas is problematic. Typically it is necessary to gain access through a service provider that charges per-minute access fees. Inexpensive e-mail software can be purchased that connects only long enough to retrieve messages for later, off-line reading, greatly reducing COSTS.

The Importance of E-mail

Why place so much emphasis on the ability to receive and send e-mail through the Internet? Is not the Web the wave of the future? Certainly access to the Web is the driving force behind new users of the Internet. It rivals television and radio for attracting casual viewers. For the first time, residents of small communities can read The New York Times and view the press photographs on the day of publication without leaving their home. Web sites are not essential, however, for answering citizen inquiries or sharing professional information.

With an e-mail account that is publicized through local newspapers or fliers sent our with municipal services billings, it is possible for the local government finance officer to become more accessible to citizens who have e-mail access either directly or through a larger Web-based service. Citizens with questions about an upcoming bond election or their water bills can pose them quickly from home in the evening, without taking time out during working hours to call. As for the finance officer...