Arlington invests in call center modernization and Connect Arlington fiber infrastructure

The Arlington County Board held a work session on February 27, 2025, to discuss the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026, focusing on key initiatives in technology and infrastructure. A significant highlight was the ongoing modernization of the county's call center, which has been deemed a "huge success." The budget document references the call center 36 times across various departments, indicating its importance in the county's digital transformation efforts.

Officials emphasized the need for consistent funding for digital transformation to combat technological obsolescence. They noted that without ongoing investment, the county risks falling behind in technology, which is crucial for navigating budget constraints and enhancing service delivery.

Another key topic was the performance parking pilot program, which officials praised as a model for community engagement and policy alignment with the transportation comprehensive plan. They acknowledged the need for better advertising of the program to attract more visitors to local commercial areas, thereby boosting economic activity.

The meeting also covered the capital budget, which totals over $5 million, reflecting a 41% reduction compared to the previous fiscal year. This decrease is attributed to refined project scopes, shifting expenses to cloud-based solutions, and a realistic assessment of what can be accomplished within the budget. Key allocations include $2.9 million for hardware refreshment, $1.2 million for network updates, and funding for the Connect Arlington initiative, which aims to enhance connectivity and redundancy for local schools and traffic systems.

Overall, the discussions underscored Arlington County's commitment to advancing its technological infrastructure while ensuring fiscal responsibility and community engagement. The next steps will involve finalizing the budget and continuing to implement the outlined projects to enhance service delivery and connectivity across the county.