Transparency leads to better reporting technology

The reporting requirements for the federal stimulus program have yielded an unexpected benefit — better reporting technology at the state and local levels.  New York State, for example, combined existing IT systems with a new web-based tool to make filing easier for agencies. “We never would have been able to do it without technology,” said Deborah Cunningham, coordinator for educational management services at the New York State Education Department. Despite these successes, officials caution that challenges still remain, especially at the local level, where some agencies relied on email, spreadsheets, and paper to document stimulus spending.  Link to full story in NextGov.

Tagged as: ARRA, data, economic stimulus, software