Need to pay that parking ticket? Tired of graffiti on the corner? Need a dog license for Fido? In many cities around the country, you can accomplish these tasks and more from the comfort of your computer.

Local government Web sites for Montgomery County, Md., and Fresno, Calif., received top honors from Government Technology's "Best of the Web 2006" contest. The sites were selected by a panel of judges from state and local technology organizations for their innovation, ease of use, functionality, economy, improved citizen access and efficiency-boosting features.

Previous winners of Government Technology's award include the City of Seattle, which puts dozens of city services at your fingertips, from animal control and building codes to recycling and taxes. The Douglas County Clerk-Treasurer gives residents easy access to information about marriage licenses, elections and property taxes. The cities of Chicago and Indianapolis received honorable mentions from Government Technology for their online services.

The Local Connection

So how do you find your local government's site in the sea of dot coms, govs and orgs? Here are a few resources that should help you out:

• GovSpot State Government
  Click on your state to find state and local government resources.
  
  
• State & Local Gov't
  A handy, well organized guide to state and local government-sponsored Web sites organized by state.
  
  
  
  
  
• Munisource
  Search the database of United States municipalities. You can also search for cities in other countries.
  
  
• NewsDirectory: City Governments
  This collection of city governments can be accessed by state, area code or city name. As a bonus, view online colleges, newspapers and visitor bureaus for each city and state.
  
  
• The National Association of Counties
  If your city doesn't have a Web site, your county might. The National Association of Counties collects and distributes facts and figures about the 3,066 counties in the United States.
  
  
• E- The People
  If your car is swallowed up by a pothole the size of Poughkeepsie, E- The People can help you find the person you need to tell about it. Simply go to the site, click on "roads and transportation," type in your address and they'll forward your note to the right officials in your city. If your public works commissioner doesn't have Internet access, they'll convert your e-mail to a fax!
  
  
  
  
  

View more articles, questions or lists.