AUGUSTA – Maine has leaped over more than 30 states to tie with Arizona for fifth place nationally in an annual study of how governments use the Internet to provide services to the public. The study, which was conducted by the California-based Center for Digital Government, was released earlier this week.

“Maine did very well this year,” said Cathilea Robinett, executive director of the center. “It was amazing to see the progress that was achieved from one year to the next.”

Last year Maine ranked 35th in the nation. The center analyzed state efforts in utilizing digital technologies to deliver a wide range of services to citizens. The four-part study measured eight different sectors of government services: law enforcement and the courts, social services, e-commerce and business regulation, taxation and revenue, digital democracy, management and administration, education and transportation.

“We are so pleased to get this recognition,” said Administrative and Financial Services Commissioner Janet Waldron. “We have been working to improve access to government through the Net and many things just came together last year.”

Waldron said one area where Mainers can easily see the impact of government use of technology is in taxation. Maine Revenue Services allows taxpayers to fill out their tax returns online and file them electronically. That allows refunds to be made in a few weeks, instead of taking months to process, and refunds can now be electronically deposited in a taxpayer’s savings or checking account.

“We have seen a big increase in people using online filing,” she said. “It was up about 45 percent in 2001.”

The state invested in new software to accomplish the online filing, and it has greatly reduced errors, Waldron said. She estimated the system has saved about $300,000 in administrative costs.

In 2000, about 77,000 taxpayers used the Internet to file their income taxes. But in 2001, the number jumped to 113,000 and Waldron expects the amount will grow significantly again this year. In 2001, about 18 percent of all taxpayers used electronic filing.

“What has been accomplished was the result of a lot of work by a lot of people,” said Gov. Angus King. “This is just incredibly good news.”

But, King added, he still hopes to improve on the state’s efforts before he leaves office. For example, he is requiring state agencies to use video conferencing to conduct meetings to reduce the amount of time state workers spend traveling.

“The rule will be use videoconferencing and the exception will be meeting in person,” he said.

The report also showed Maine made major gains in several of the categories. In the category measuring the availability of forms and online assistance, the state jumped from 28th to 2nd place. In the social services category the state scored a major improvement, from 37th in the nation to 3rd. And the increased investment in information technology by the state resulted in a jump from 21st in the country to 3rd.

Waldron said making use of technology not only saves taxpayers money and time, it also makes it easier for citizens to use a wide array of government services.

“People can get their drivers license renewed online, get a variety of business licenses online, and get information on rules and regulations from Web sites,” she said.

Robinett agreed. She said Maine is an example of the movement nationwide by states to become more accessible to citizens through the use of technology. But, she said, there are areas where Maine still lags behind most other states.

“The state was 31st in the digital democracy category that measures Internet access to government officials and the workings of the various branches of government,” she said.

The Maine Legislature is scheduled to start an experimental use of the Internet today that will let people listen to the proceedings in the House and Senate. Over half the states not only let citizens listen to legislative deliberations online already, they also let them watch online. And many also allow Internet access to public hearings and committee deliberations.

“We have a long way to go,” said Senate President Richard Bennett, R-Norway. “I personally think we should do everything we can to open a window on the government, and that includes the courts and the executive branch.”

Bennett is pleased with the overall progress state government has made in using Internet technology. He plans to form a task force after the session is over to look at ways the Legislature, and government agencies, can make better use of technology as a way to engage Mainers in the political process.

King said the executive branch would do its part. He said meetings of all regulatory agencies, such as the Board of Environmental Protection, should be on the Internet later this year.

“I am told we have the capacity to do it, it’s just a matter of working out the details,” he said.

One Maine agency, the Maine Public Utilities Commission, has been allowing the public to listen to its proceedings since 1997.

Robinett said she plans to be in Maine next week to give the state an award for its progress. She said all states that make the top 10 are so honored.