Survey: Salt Lake City tops in using digita..

Efficiency • City government makes best use of tech to interact with residents.

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In a survey released Thursday, Salt Lake City was named the top city government in the country in the way it uses digital technology to help residents and to run its operations, according to the Center for Digital Government.

The city was ranked the highest among towns of its size (population 125,000 to 249,999) based on reducing overtime with new technology, embracing "bring your own device" programs to reduce costs, and the development of mobile apps for city residents to help reduce fuel and power consumption.

The Center for Digital Government is a national institute on information technology policy for state and local governments.

Other cities in SLC's population category were (by ranking) Cape Coral, Fla.; Winston-Salem, S.C.; Chula Vista, Calif.; and Olathe, Kan.

"Cities that are investing in technology are seeing tremendous cost savings that are critical to operations and their ability to meet higher demand for services," the center's executive director, Todd Sander, said in a statement. "These cities are true innovators."

The center also recently gave Utah state government an "A" grade for its use of digital technology for helping residents and streamlining operations.

vince@sltrib.com —

City rankings

Louisville Metro Government, Ky. (250,000 or more population)

Salt Lake City (125,000-249,999 population)

City of Ann Arbor, Mich. (75,000-124,999 population)

Town of Marana, Ariz. (30,000-74,999 population)

Survey: Salt Lake City tops in using digital technology