Tablets lead to transparency

Belleville went paperless, giving city council members $12,800 in iPads. They might save up to $15,000 a year in printing.

The savings are likely to be greater, and Belleville residents are likely to see more significant benefits.

Belleville’s paper trail was not just about printing 44,505 pages in 2014, it was also about using a Belleville Police officer as a delivery person. That was just a misuse of a thin resource when crime prevention must be the priority.

Add to that the transparency that electronic documents represent. Not only do city leaders get documents instantly delivered, but now everyone interested in Belleville city government has access to the details at belleville.net.

Belleville ordinances back to 1935 are expected to soon be available to the public from their computers.

Belleville city leaders deserve credit for trying to save money. Other government units should be looking at how technology can open up their operations to scrutiny by the people who pay the bills.

This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Tablets lead to transparency."