Public safety will push up state, local IT spending
State and local spending on IT will increase several billion dollars over the next five years, predicts British data research firm Datamonitor. A recent study, IT Opportunities in State and Local Government (PDF), finds that public safety, transportation and health and human services will push IT spending up from $55 billion today to $62.4 billion in 2009.
Spending on hardware and networks will fall over this period, being replaced by software and services. Falling hardware prices, staff reductions and increased interest in e-government are among the reasons.
Washington Technology quotes the report's author, Kate McCurdy: “State and local governments are investing in technology in response to public and media attention on their capabilities to handle emergency situations and support community protection on an ongoing basis.
