State Planning Software

Municipal and state planning software has matured over the last 15 to 20 years to become a multi-functional planning and information management tool. With the emergence of the Internet as a driving force in connectivity, disparate state offices are enjoying a larger degree of interplay than ever before. Through good state planning software, many different state departments and local offices can access up-to-the minute development information, allowing for a higher processing speed and degree of efficiency than ever before.

Three Primary Types of State Planning Software

There are three primary functions that may be covered by state planning software: accounting, GIS, and human resources software. Some manufacturers may bundle them together, but many allow potential users to pick and choose through customized installation options. In most cases, all three can be used in concert to build a powerful, comprehensive software suite.

Accounting software and human resources software are integral to fund and resource management operations in statewide planning. Today's accounting software programs can handle complex budgets, revenue, and expenditures with ease, and can be set to automatically generate many kinds of financial reports. It can be used with human resources software to manage statewide employee data and forecast state budgetary requirements.

GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, software organizes property, parcel, or demographic information into a geographic context. It is widely used at the state and local level for zoning and development planning, but can also be used for license processing and permit functions. Through the Internet, many different state offices can access and control GIS information, making it indispensable for many state planning operations.