Passage Four
Now state governments are getting up to speed. Rather than hundreds of different agencies setting up their own sites, the content available on the Web is now managed from the top. The hope is this centralized approach will lead to better customer relations and efficiency. One supporter estimates the streamlined approach can save $300 million a year in California alone.
California is the most recent in a string of states to use technology to make its dealings with the public more pleasant. Through California’s new website, citizens can check on the status of tax returns, register vehicles, apply for fishing or hunting licenses, and make appointments at the Department of Motor Vehicles, among other things. These are all tasks that would have previously required more time on the part of the consumer, and more money and employees on the government side.
“If we save each person one hour per year of standing in line , that will save California’s citizens about $300 million,” said Carlo Grifone, principal at Deloitte Consulting. “That does not even account for the amount of money and time the government saves by becoming more efficient.”
Last September, when California undertook the project of updating its website, it was like many states: The site was filled with out-of –date information (including year-old budget documents) and had limited ability to update information, let alone perform services.
Arun Baheti, California’s director of e-government, decided to model California’s site after those of the private sector firms in nearby Silicon Valley. “People were using California’s website to look up the address of the closest Department of Motor Vehicles or to find the email address of the closest Department of Motor Vehicles or to find the email address of their senator,” Baheti said. “We wanted people to be able to do much more than that.”
In order to give California’s site a private sector feel, Baheti enlisted five leading IT companies to put the site together. In under four months. California went from way behind the private sector to a point at which Grifone says they have “leapfrogged the private sector.”
Using the idea of “one government, one person.” Said Grifone, state governments will take the private sector approach to the public sector. www.mpacc.net.cn
46. How are state governments improving their management?
A.   Officials are getting up earlier for work.
B.   The agencies are competing to set up their own websites.
C.   The governments are streamlining their website content.
D.   The departments are conducting some business with customers.
47 What do the citizens benefit from the new California’s website?
A.   They can find out how much tax they will receive.
B.   They are selling their cars on the website.