Local governments have to fight to keep up with the constant demand for current services and availability as technology progresses at a breakneck speed. There’s a strict need for organization, a legal responsibility to be as clear and correct in math as possible, and a moral desire to be transparent with the area’s people. Unfortunately, many counties and towns still bookkeep and track information like it’s 2005, and Microsoft Excel is the most advanced bookkeeping program out there.
Municipal software is here to help fix everything- and here are the top three ways it manages this!
Billing And Accounting
Running a municipality is a lot of paperwork. This cost can range from employee pay to fees that are owed to the court. Unfortunately, many don’t have the organization needed in the 21st century to keep up. Instead, they stick to old bookkeeping apps or stay on paper despite how easy it is to ruin or lose.
Any good municipal software will be capable of categorizing what type of billing needs to get sent out, addressing it, and letting you know if it has or hasn’t been paid. Not only does this help these governments keep track of what they’re owed and from whom, but they also ensure that the lists are updated nearly immediately. No more hours of filing or finding files; it’s all in one spot.
Code Enforcement
The codes and rules that govern our municipalities are often the glue that holds it all together. Code enforcement through software doesn’t mean the program will arrest anyone or make wellness visits, but it will help people enforce the codes! By keeping track of local codes, having tabs on people who violate regulations and their punishments, and looking out for the frequency of these violations, municipal software is like a mini version of the legal system tied up into a neat programming bundle.
Keeping track of frequency and names will help the program notice if someone who’s not learning their lessons through fees and letters will give the municipality the chance to step it up a notch. If people assume there are no consequences, they’ll do whatever they want to.
Tax and Utility Database
A database may not sound thrilling, but it’s a surefire way to ensure that your municipality keeps track of anything important. This means that the program will track what utility and tax payments are owed when, from whom, and where it’s payable. Like bookkeeping, the main goal of this portion of the software is to free up time so people can do something else besides search through every file to ensure someone has paid the correct taxes or fees. Most municipalities don’t have huge groups of people who can do every job- it’s just not financially feasible. The software takes over and can iron out any wrinkles before you notice them.
Although many small governments may not think they need to update their systems (why fix what isn’t broken, after all!), an update like this will prepare them for their future before it arrives.
