City Offers New Public Data Access Tool

By Desiree Parker Saturday, August 13, 2011

The City of Williamsburg launched a new tool that will allow the public to see current data on the city’s performance in all operations areas.

The web-based Public Dashboard system is part of the city’s Performance Management System, which received a 2010 Governor’s Technology Award for innovation and increased efficiency, along with the International City/County Management Association Center for Performance Measurement Certificate of Distinction.

The public web tool allows citizens to view city data – from bus ridership and public works information to revenues, expenditures and crime statistics – by clicking through the city’s website. This is the same data city employees look at daily, according to City Manager Jack Tuttle.

The Dashboard data, available to staff for almost two years now, allows employees to understand how the city is progressing by following indicators such as retail sales, hotel room rentals, energy usage and EMS response time. The current data is compiled into charts and graphs alongside data from previous years and also citizen survey results to help show trends and benchmarks.

“This system of Public Dashboards is a great example of how the effective use of technology can transform the interaction between citizens and their government,” Information Technology Director Mark Barham said. “This new technology enables us not only to inform the public but also to engage and educate them about their City government.”

The Dashboards are also displayed on computers in the lobby of the Municipal Building for public view.

To view the Dashboard, you must have Microsoft’s Silverlight plugin, which is available free of charge from Microsoft.com in PC and Mac versions.The link is on the city website.