Poughkeepsie — Dutchess County has once again been ranked among the nation’s top ten counties for best technology practices, marking the 23rd consecutive year it has earned this distinction. The 2026 Digital Counties Survey, conducted by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo), ranked Dutchess County 9th in the nation among mid-size counties for its work to strengthen cybersecurity, streamline service delivery, and responsibly apply innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). These ongoing efforts are led by the County’s Office of Central and Information Services (OCIS), which continues its long tradition of providing secure, innovative tools to support County employees, residents, and businesses.
“Dutchess County continues to prioritize smart, responsible technology investments that improve how we serve our community,” said County Executive Sue Serino. “The entire team at OCIS, under the leadership of Steve Oscarlece, is to be commended for their commitment to innovation and to making everyday interactions with County Government faster, easier, and more accessible.”
GIS Tools and Innovation
Dutchess County is consistently recognized for delivering cutting‑edge and secure technologies for employees, residents, and businesses. Among the most highly used resources are the County’s Geographic Information System (GIS) applications, including the renowned ParcelAccess application, which offers detailed property information for more than 110,000 parcels through a user-friendly, web-based interface. ParcelAccess attracts more than 775,000 unique IP addresses each year, viewing nearly 26 million pages.
A recently added GIS tool, the Agricultural District Viewer, enhances and streamlines the application process and expands transparency for application review.
Combined, the County’s GIS applications and open data portal received more than 107 million webpage hits over the past year.
Accessibility Improvements
OCIS remains committed to ensuring all online information and services are accessible to people of all abilities. Over the past year, the OCIS web team reviewed and updated digital documents on www.DutchessNY.gov to meet new ADA accessibility standards, well ahead of the federal 2027 compliance deadline.
Responsible Use of AI
The County is also focused on the ethical and secure implementation of AI technology to improve efficiency and support limited staff resources. One example is the AI-powered call assistance tool, EVA, currently being piloted by the Department of Community & Family Services to help manage call volume and expedite SNAP application processing. To ensure responsible use of emerging technologies, County Executive Serino’s AI Task Force has developed comprehensive policy guidelines addressing privacy, ethics, transparency, and risk management.
Cybersecurity Leadership
As technology evolves, so do the methods used by bad actors to attack organizations. Cybersecurity readiness remains a top priority for Dutchess County, helping mitigate the potentially exponential costs of cyber incidents. OCIS conducts ongoing security assessments and has recently implemented improvements for advanced threat detection, stronger routing, and redundant connectivity.
Shared Service Collaboration
OCIS also supports local organizations and municipalities by partnering with Marist University to host annual technology-focused summits. This year’s Hudson Valley AI Summit, held in June, highlighted best practices for AI integration, workforce benefits, and ethical considerations.
“We are committed to pairing innovation with security so that every new tool truly benefits our employees and residents,” said OCIS Commissioner Stephen Oscarlece. “From advanced GIS applications and improved cybersecurity defenses to more accessible web services and thoughtful AI implementation, our work centers on delivering technology that is safe, reliable, and easy to use. These efforts help ensure County operations remain resilient, efficient, and responsive.”
“One of the clearest trends this year is that leading counties are moving beyond individual technology projects. They are connecting their investments and priorities, and building the governance, leadership, and organizational capacity needed to sustain success over time,” said Rob Lloyd, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government. “Through responsible AI, stronger data practices, and workforce investments, this year’s winners are creating foundations that will help their organizations adapt and serve their communities better into the future.”
