State And Local Software

Generally, the three main functions that are fulfilled by state and local software are accounting, human resource and asset management, and geographic information management. Many current software developers design their municipal software to take advantage of modern advancements in connectivity by allowing different software modules to act in concert as a full software suite. By doing so, developers allow offices an unprecedented amount of flexibility and inter-departmental communication.

The Functions of State and Local Software

The main function of accounting modules of most state and local software is to process income and expenditures as efficiently and accurately as possible. Many current accounting programs include accounts payable, budget preparation, and purchase order functionality. They can also be used with utility billing software to automatically process payments and post them to any specified journal, including the general ledger.

Human resource and asset management software is designed to keep detailed logs of the identity and condition of every state or municipal asset. As detailed in GASB 34, government offices should be able to account for the value of all their assets, so many developers now include depreciation calculation functions in their asset management software. Most state and local software also uses client/server program architecture, allowing statewide use by as many offices as necessary.

State and municipal governments commonly use GIS software to organize property, parcel, and demographic data in geographic context. Many municipal GIS programs can also handle the processing of permit and license applications. Some current versions of GIS software can also store photos, CAD drawings and other visual data to create complete records and a variety of reports