Executive Summary
Presently, some Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA)
members have no, or at best, severely limited
technology assets including computers,
municipality-specific software programs, web sites,
and Internet access. The lack of these technology
tools continues to:
1) prevent small to
mid-size municipalities from improving and
increasing their efficiency in the daily delivery of
services to its residence;
2) compete nationally and
globally for potential economic development
opportunities; and
3) severely limits the
LMA staff from receiving and/or providing timely
information to the membership.
Most rural areas are not
benefiting from technology primarily because they
lack the necessary resources, without much
possibility in the near-term to acquire even the
most basic items like a computer and Internet
access. For example, without adequate technology or
the financial resources to acquire it, many
municipalities and their citizens are unable to
participate as equal partners with other Louisiana
citizens. They are left out of the dialogue for
change and are unable to exert any potential
influence they might have exerted collectively on
decision-makers in government and the private
sector. In contrast, Louisiana’s investment in
technology in the classroom has resulted in the
State moving from last place to being ranked in the
top one-third of states in the U.S.
The LaMATS Board of Directors
has identified and established a program to help
municipalities with the greatest need acquire
computer hardware and software, and Internet
access. The Computer and Internet Technology
Assistance Program (CITAP) is designed to eventually
create a state/municipal-wide computer network
whereby every municipality would have, among other
things, equal and unlimited access to the World Wide
Web, user-friendly Web site development tools, and
easier access to LMA, state, federal and foundation
programs and assistance. CITAP will also assist mid
to large-size municipalities by serving as a
clearinghouse and technical advisor on more advanced
e-government applications.
The establishment of a
state/municipal-wide information technology
“network” is both challenging and costly. This plan
will offer a range of implementation strategies,
with the primary focus of using the majority of the
funding resources to provide immediate assistance to
small-size municipalities, identified as Phase I.
With the generous financial support of the LMA
Board, these information technology resources may be
provided at no or limited cost to municipalities.
Program Description
The stated goals of
this program provide for every municipality with a
need for computer technology assistance to receive a
level of support from the LMA. However, in order to
meet the near-term goals, the first level of
assistance should address the immediate need of
those municipalities who current have no, or
severely limited computer and Internet
capabilities.
With varying needs between
municipalities, not each one will require the same
level of assistance. The following identifies the
3
main levels of assistance: