2026 Digital Counties Survey spotlights county AI, cybersecurity and data investments

The Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties have named the top performers in the 2026 Digital Counties Survey, which highlights how counties are using technology to improve operations and resident services. The results show cybersecurity, budget pressure, AI governance and data management continuing to shape county IT priorities nationwide.

Why it matters: - Counties are using technology to improve public services, strengthen operations and respond to tighter budgets. - The 2026 survey shows a broader shift toward AI governance, data-driven decision-making and workforce readiness. - The findings point to how local governments are trying to improve service delivery while building more resilient digital systems.

What happened: - The Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties announced the top counties in the 2026 Digital Counties Survey on July 16, 2026. - The survey is in its 24th year. - The awards recognize counties using technology to improve government operations, public services and resident outcomes. - The survey evaluates strategic planning, cybersecurity, digital services, technology leadership, data management and innovation.

The details: - Orange County, Fla. took first place in the population category of 1,000,000 or more. - Prince William County, Va. took first place in the 500,000 to 999,999 category. - County of Marin, Calif. took first place in the 250,000 to 499,999 category. - County of Pitt, N.C. took first place in the 150,000 to 249,999 category. - County of York, Va. took first place in the less than 150,000 category. - Orange County, Fla. has implemented more than 600 AI-enabled or AI-related projects. - Orange County, Fla. uses AI for the 311 Google project and Project Overdose, which identifies dangerous drug trends. - Prince William County, Va. adopted an AI security platform, an AI risk management framework and guidelines for using AI in service delivery. - Prince William County, Va. says its PWC311 system combines a resident portal, mobile app, call center, text messaging and AI-powered chat and voice bots. - PWC311 has reduced call-handling times to less than two minutes. - County of Marin, Calif. deployed AI and Microsoft tools to process historical land records. - County of Marin, Calif. also created the MarinData enterprise data platform and a countywide data integration pipeline. - County of Pitt, N.C. created two Deputy CIO positions and partnered with a private-sector research organization. - County of Pitt, N.C. built a 14-channel digital constituent services ecosystem backed by a KPI framework. - County of Pitt, N.C. reported double-digit growth in digital adoption. - County of Pitt, N.C. also created a multimedia dashboard for the county permitting system and a 12-step AI playbook. - County of York, Va. aligned IT salaries with organizational values and targets, modernized job classifications and added incentives for professional certifications. - County of York, Va. requires every AI initiative to show anticipated benefits before approval under an Administrative Directive. - The full awards list includes King County, Wash., County of Alameda, Calif., County of Fairfax, Va., Maricopa County, Ariz., Cook County, Ill. and other top-10 finishers across each population category. - All recipients will be recognized during the 2026 Digital Counties Awards Dinner at the NACo Annual Conference in New Orleans. - More information is available in the awards program.

Between the lines: - The survey shows counties moving beyond isolated tech projects and toward broader governance and organizational change. - Rob Lloyd, executive director of the Center for Digital Government, said leading counties are connecting investments, priorities and governance capacity to sustain long-term results. - John Matelski, chief information officer of NACo, said the awards create shared knowledge that helps county leaders adapt proven approaches. - Cybersecurity remained the top county technology priority for the 13th consecutive year. - Budget and cost control rose to the No. 2 priority, reflecting pressure to show value from technology spending. - Data governance moved from 10th to 7th place, signaling a stronger focus on data quality and stewardship. - 86% of counties identified funding constraints as a significant challenge over the past year. - 82% said central IT organizations or county CIOs are leading AI governance, staffing and implementation.

What's next: - Counties are likely to keep prioritizing cybersecurity, AI governance, modernization and workforce retention as funding pressures continue. - The awards dinner in New Orleans will showcase how counties are sharing practices and scaling digital government improvements. - The survey suggests future county technology strategies will center on responsible AI adoption and stronger organizational alignment.

The bottom line: - County governments are treating technology less as a set of projects and more as a core operating strategy.