Legislators mull online tax payments

Jefferson County is thinking about letting residents pay their property taxes over the Internet.

The idea was one of many considered last week by the Legislature's technology ad hoc committee, which was asked to assess the county's information services department and recommend improvements to the county's Web site.

Besides paying property taxes, customers one day may be able to pay for tax maps from the county's Real Property Tax Services Office and for land records from the County Clerk's Office with a credit card and over the Net.

Michael E. Kaskan, deputy county administrator, said lawmakers will have to decide if they want to offer credit card payments before the county upgrades its Web site. Legislators will debate whether to increase fees for services to offset fees from the credit card processor.

Legislator Scott A. Gray, the committee's chairman, said he favors offering payments by credit card over the Web site, but he is not sure about increasing fees. He also advocated for an outside group to design the new Web site instead of existing information services staff and asked Mr. Kaskan to research companies that could handle the work.

Legislator Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, asked Mr. Kaskan and Gregory C. Hudson, interim information services director, to research how people are paying their property taxes — check, cash or escrow — so lawmakers can estimate how many might use the credit card option.

Mr. Hudson also briefed legislators about the county's new work-order system, which allows department heads to review the status of their office's technology-related problems.

He also told legislators the county had eased some of its security protocols to improve computer functionality for its employees. Those steps included restoring the use of a right-click on a mouse and unblocking Internet sites for law enforcement, probation and court officials. He said the county hired an outside vendor to handle the county's e-mail, which is doing a better job blocking spam.

"Before, we were of the mind-set that we restrict it so that somebody couldn't damage their computer," Mr. Hudson said. "Now the mentality is: If somebody does something (wrong), we fix it."

Legislator Philip N. Reed, R-Fishers Landing, said "the chatter that was out there" from employees frustrated by the county's previous policies "has quieted down quite a bit."

"From where we were to where we are today, it's quite a jump," he said.

Mr. Gray agreed, saying, "Operationally, I think we're leaps and bounds above where we were."

Mr. Gray, Mr. Reed and Mrs. Russell credited Mr. Hudson, who also is the county's budget analyst, with moving the department in the right direction.