The State of Minnesota has been recognized as a national leader for its use of technology to better serve citizens, increase operational efficiencies, and promote increased collaboration between state and local government agencies, according to the results of the Digital States Survey, a comprehensive biannual review of the technology practices of state governments by the Center for Digital Government.

Minnesotas grade for electronic service delivery moved up to a grade of A-, from a B+ in 2010, putting the State behind only Michigan and Utah, and on a short list of states that lead the country in using technology to improve service delivery, increase capacity, change cost structures and reach policy goals.

When we talk about making government work better for the people of Minnesota, we mean it, said Governor Mark Dayton. This is another success in our continuing effort to build a better government for a better Minnesota. I congratulate our Chief Information Officer, Carolyn Parnell, and her team for this outstanding achievement.

The Digital States Survey results come just one year after Minnesota initiated a comprehensive IT consolidation effort across the executive branch centralizing all executive branch technology functions within a single statewide, IT agency, MNIT Services. Under the states new model, MNIT Services acts as the central IT service provider to all state agencies.

We have found that we are stacking up well against similar efforts underway throughout the private sector, said Parnell. But this evaluation by the Center for Digital Government is particularly gratifying, as it recognizes Minnesota as leaders in the government space.

Within a year of consolidation, MNIT Services transferred roughly 1,500 IT employees from 70 separate agencies into the new organization, and completed comprehensive service level agreements with each state agency, outlining the costs and level of service for all IT services, projects and applications a level of IT management that is rare in both the private and public sectors.

While the survey recognized the early success of Minnesota's strategic transformation of IT over the last year, its focus was on how states use technology to better engage, inform and interact with citizens and make government more transparent. Minnesota's survey submission highlighted several examples of this type of innovative use of technology:

• Mobile applications from the Department of Natural Resources, such as the LakeFinder and Fall Colors apps
• The Pollution Control Agency's Whats in My Neighborhood online tool
• E-service filing options from the Department of Revenue for business and individual tax payers

Details about the 2012 Digital States Survey by The Center for Digital Government

• Minnesota received the grade A- in the 2012 Digital States Survey. This is up from B+ in 2010. Under the Digital States criteria, a grade of A reflects a state that is Trending sharply up. Demonstrated results across all categories. Modernization used to realize operational efficiencies and strategic priorities under nimble leaders. Evidence of meaningful collaboration. Performance measures and metrics widely adopted. Cuts tend to be made strategically.
• The Digital States Survey, which began 15 years ago, has helped benchmark state government use of digital technologies to improve service delivery, increase capacity, change cost structures and reach policy goals. The 2012 survey set a high bar for state performance as many governments continue to deal with budget cuts, a lagging economic recovery and increased demand for services.
• A full list of state grades can be found at www.centerdigitalgov.com