Suffolk County to Become First Suburban County in New York State to Implement 311 System
County Executive Bellone Announces Suffolk311 to Go Live in 30 Days
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Praises Plan to Implement 311 for County Government
Major Government Reform Initiative Will Enhance Public Safety, Accountability, and Constituent Response
Other Major Cities to Embrace 311 Include New York City, Baltimore, Buffalo, Boston, and Chicago
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today announced a major government reform initiative that will transform the way county government utilizes data to make critical management decisions. The County Executive announced during his 2019 State of the County Address that Suffolk County will implement the first suburban countywide 311 system in New York State.
The Suffolk311 system will improve public safety by reducing the burden on 911 county emergency call centers that receive tens of thousands of non-emergency calls each year. This will allow emergency call centers to be better positioned to respond to true emergencies.
“This new system incorporates the best elements of public safety, data management, and constituent satisfaction,” said County Executive Bellone. “By replicating both public and private sector best practices, Suffolk County is leading the state when it comes to bringing County government into the 21st century.”
Former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said: “311 has been a big success in New York City not only because residents and visitors use it to get information and report issues, but also because it gives government leaders data that can help them direct resources and solve problems. Congratulations to County Executive Bellone on making a smart investment in Suffolk's future."
In preparation for this initiative the Bellone Administration reached out to the father of municipal 311, former Mayor of Baltimore and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. As Mayor, O’Malley was a proponent of utilizing a 311 call center to measure and track constituent complaints as a way to improve government service.
Upon taking office, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that his administration would undertake a 311 telephone system, using a centralized phone number to serve as a hub to centralize services spanning departments in the City of New York. By March 2013, Mayor Bloomberg commemorated ten years of NYC311, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive 311 non-emergency government information and services center, by declaring it had received nearly 160 million calls since its inception and the highest ratings satisfaction.
Other major cities and local governments across the country have also embraced the 311 concept to improve efficiency and better track service requests. These include the cities of Buffalo, Boston and Chicago, to name a few.
Suffolk311 will dramatically improve residents’ interactions and overall experience with county government. In addition to connecting residents to the government that serves them, the system is a premier management tool, which will help officials to better allocate resources and taxpayer dollars. The system will capture critical details on each call, question, or request, allowing the county to gather valuable insight into the issues communities across the county are facing in real-time.
The Suffolk311 software is a sophisticated constituent response system that uses cutting-edge cloud technology to provide more professional, timely, and effective customer service for all municipal residents. By dialing 311, or 631-853-6311 if outside the jurisdiction of the county, residents will be directed to a central call center that will drastically simplify constituent interactions for tracking and completing common inquiries and concerns, such as reporting potholes. The 311 system will also include a website, mobile application, and social media platform for residents to choose from a variety of methods to initiate service requests.
The County Executive delivered his eighth State of the County Address that outlined initiatives to reform county finances, enhance public safety, protect taxpayers, and continue the historic progress made to improve water quality. The County Executive addressed an audience of nearly 500 guests that included students, school superintendents, community leaders, and local officials at the Suffolk County Community College Grant Campus in Brentwood.
###