I am pleased to submit the Fifty-Fifth Annual Report of the Department of Assessments and Taxation. This report presents an overview of this agency's functions, a summary of significant developments during the past year, and tables of important statistical data. As you will note from this report, there has been a large devotion of staff effort to remedy these systems. Thanks to the hard work of our employees, all data systems of the Department will be year 2000 compliant by the spring of 1999.
Technology continues to be the key for improved public service.
In 1998 the Department obtained access to multiple listing data for our assessment staff. This will better enable our property appraisals to reflect the direction of the real estate market and consider the inventory of housing for sale. We also made significant improvements to our Internet web site by linking all of our public records for real property, personal property, charter records, and Uniform Commercial Code filings to the site. Our enhanced Web site has been welcomed by our customers, and currently receives over 40,000 hits each weekday. You have my commitment that the public and business community will continue to receive courteous service and prompt attention to their requests for assistance.