In the near future, we also plan to auction other forms of real property, including vacant land, open space, and industrial and commercial properties. In addition to conducting online auctions, the Riverside County Treasurer's office decided to provide an online property tax information and payment system. Our legacy mainframe system, which was installed in the 1970s, is shared by multiple departments to administer property information and is incapable of using today's more user-friendly and advanced software applications. To meet the challenge of providing quality customer service to a growing population that is increasingly familiar with current technology, we decided to look to the Internet for viable solutions. By going online, we have given taxpayers the ability to pay property taxes 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the Internet, allowing them to access critical information and to process transactions at their convenience.
Constituents can look up property information simply by inputting the address.
Issues to Consider When using this kind of technology, there are several issues to consider. For example, the benefits of external versus internal system development and the technological platform to be used should be reviewed, as well as privacy concerns. When technology is developed internally, the government entity's IS department creates software specifically for that particular department. Technology in the private sector improves at such a rapid pace that using software for two decades leaves government agencies behind. On the other hand, agencies that use technology developed by an external source can benefit from the latest technological advances.