~ 8 MIN READ
Top Municipal Government Software By Category
Looking for municipal government software for accounting, performance management, or anything else? Here are five of the most recognized solutions.

Whether it’s for accounting, asset management, communications, or anything else, the right software can do for local governments what it does for any type of organization—give them an advantage in the areas of efficiency, productivity, and decision-making.
But municipalities have an additional set of concerns that makes their software needs somewhat unique. Because they exist to serve the public, they have a greater need for transparency around their activities; they also put more emphasis on communication (with citizens, employees, the media, and others) than the typical organization.
In our view, then, the best municipal government software not only helps you perform specific tasks, but also supports transparency and communication.
But those aren’t the only attributes to look for. Aside from having specific features related to functional areas, there are a few other considerations that will be important no matter what type of municipal software you’re using. Below, we’ve included a list of those attributes, along with a list of questions for you to ask as you shop around.
We’ve also identified five software categories most relevant to municipalities, and a top-rated software solution (according to G2, Capterra, and other review sites) for each one. It’s important to note that not every government needs all the types of software listed here; it depends on the problems you’re trying to solve, as well as your size, your existing technology tools, and your budget.
Is your municipality striving for excellence? Here are more than 100 performance measures you can use to help you reach your goals.
5 Things To Evaluate In Any Type Of Municipal Government Software
1. Ease Of Use
The whole point of adopting software is to make your life—and the lives of your employees—easier. If the product you buy isn’t user-friendly and therefore takes more time for people to use, then what’s the point? In that case, chances are, most staff members will avoid using the new product and will even create workarounds to continue doing things the old way.
Before you buy, do a little research on this angle. Read user reviews on the sites we mentioned above, and speak to current customers to get their take on it. You’ll also want to make sure the new product will fit in easily with your current workflow, and integrate with your other relevant software applications, so employees don’t have to go out of their way to accommodate it.
2. Security
Security isn’t as visible as customer support or functionality features, yet in today’s climate its importance cannot be overstated. You need to know that the software vendor you choose takes privacy and security seriously.
When evaluating any software product, try to get a complete picture of the vendor’s security measures, including information around data storage, accessibility, and hosting standards and practices.
3. Flexibility/Customization
Government entities tend to be strict with regard to data structure and reporting—data point names might be set in stone or reporting formats standardized. The last thing you want is to bring in a new software product that won’t support your organization’s way of doing things.
Find out in advance whether the new software would be flexible enough to accommodate your specific needs. ClearPoint, for example, can accommodate the tracking of both quantitative and qualitative data; we also offer customers the ability to create their own data fields, unique to how their government operates. You can even customize reports with your logo and other visual identity elements that reflect your organization. Whatever your requirements, bring them up with the vendor before you buy, to determine if that flexibility is built in—or if they can work with you to accommodate your needs.
4. Customer Support
Whether you’re a new or experienced user, when you run into a problem or have a question with your software, the last thing you want to do is wait hours or days for a response from the vendor. Vendors should always be ready and willing to help and respond quickly.
Software review sites are helpful here, too; you’ll see that the top municipal government software solutions are almost always associated with excellent customer service. In those reviews, look for indications that support is consistently and readily available, and that the support team is knowledgeable and helpful. Here too, talk to some existing customers to get their take.
5. Dedication To Quality
When you buy software, you’re not just buying a product; in some ways, you’re also entering into a long-term partnership with the provider. You need to know: What will that company do to support the relationship well into the future?
Find out, for instance, if the vendor regularly solicits customer feedback and makes dedicated efforts to improve the product. Also, ask about their approach to maintaining and enhancing their software.
5 Top-Rated Municipal Government Software Choices
1. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
ERP solutions help organizations of all types consolidate their various activities and workflows into a single, integrated system. Municipal ERPs are designed to encompass a wide range of public sector needs—accounting, procurement, planning, payroll, human resources, and more. A huge benefit of using an ERP system is that housing data around all these functions in one system offers you insights into all the different departments, and breaks down data silos. There’s currently a lot of interest in ERP solutions from local governments because of their appeal as an end-to-end solution, but the cost of most systems makes it a major buy.
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2. Performance Management/Government Reporting
As with any organization, municipal leaders are constantly working to improve their communities. Performance management software supports strategic planning in local governments by helping them track goals and projects; it also simplifies progress reporting to citizens and stakeholders.
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3. Financial Management/Accounting
Government accounting is complex, with multiple income sources to track, grants and loans to manage, and numerous fund payouts to handle for employees, contractors, and other parties. Software helps keep clear records of all financial transactions, and streamlines workflows so staff accountants can work more efficiently. Transparency is especially important in municipal accounting, as citizens have a right to know how their government is using public funds. Governments must be ready to respond to finance inquiries at any time, which is another area where software comes in handy.
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4. Public Works Software Work Order/Purchase Order System
Governments own numerous public buildings and spaces, assets, and infrastructure. Software is useful for tracking and managing all those assets, as well as the associated work orders and maintenance projects. It also simplifies government permitting and licensing processes.
Public works software should give you better visibility into your assets, making sure they are always well-maintained and optimally used.
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5. Citizen Relationship Management
Maintaining good relations with citizens is key to building a successful community; such relationships rely on communication. Software helps government officials become better communicators by giving them a reliable platform for receiving public input and responding to it in a timely manner. Citizens can use it to request information or services, fill out forms, provide comments, or submit applications. And because software collects and tracks relationship data across departments and agencies, it can be compiled for analysis, generating insights that can help you anticipate needs and serve your community better.
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Planning for the future of your community? Partner with ClearPoint.
If you’re looking for a local government software solution to help you achieve your community’s long-term goals, we hope you’ll consider ClearPoint!
We’ve been recognized by local governments and Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL), and named a 2020 two-time ELGL Haverford winner, an award that recognizes top partners and vendors in local government. We’ve also supported a number of communities who have won ELGL and other awards themselves. Our strategic planning capabilities and data-sharing features not only help community leaders bring their visions to life, but also make it easy for them to be open and transparent with the citizens they serve.
Want to see ClearPoint for yourself? Book a time with our team and we’ll show you around!