Browser-Based Access to Public Data By Timothy R. Barr, Director

Background 21st Century Appraisals, Inc. –A PA company since –Support and Services to County Government. –Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA). A Public Friendly Approach. –Data terminals at the counter. –Telephone reviews. –Face-to face interviews.

The Public Has Changed! Not just professional users anymore. Taxpayers should be treated like customers. People are more Informed. People are more Involved. People are more Technology Literate.

The Data Has Changed! Legacy Methods. –Paper property record cards. –Name, address, value data for billing. “New” Technologies. –More data online. (CAMA systems, etc) –Desktop Applications. Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Data bases. –Digital images, GIS maps, Scanned Docs.

The Technology Has Changed! External Service Bureaus and Mainframes. Departmental systems. –More variation, Less consistency. PC’s throughout offices and homes. Office-wide networks. Remote access was modem dialup. Internet access (easy, faster, prolific).

Our Approach Must Change! We must adapt and utilize new technologies. Must be secure. Must be “Backward Compatible.” –Still need local public access. –Still need ability to produce paper versions. Let’s put it “online”. Let’s put it on the “Internet”.

A New Approach. “One Face”, One “Look and Feel”. –Must handle multiple Departments. –Must handle different Types of Users. –Must handle different Data Sources. –Must handle different Display Devices. (PC, Web appliance, Touch Screen, etc) All the Functionality of the Old. All the Benefits of the New.

Levels of Websites. Static. –Information. Things that don’t change often. –Very easy to do. Data Generated. –Data is maintained through standard spreadsheets and/or word processing. –Can be updated by regular office staff.

Levels of Websites (cont) Nested Applications. –Run inside a browser. (Citrix, Tarentella, telnet). –Uses existing Legacy applications. Data Interactive. –Live Database or Copy of the data. –More powerful. –Greater design work required.

What About Current Systems? Don’t Force Changes “Upstream”. –Legacy system investment is in place. –Resistance to change by staff. “One Face” View of Back-End Data. –Internal users keep what they have. –External users query via browser.

Implementation Options. Development. –Inside staff? –Shrink wrap application? –Custom work by contractor? Maintenance. –Inside staff, external support, or both. Complete Out-Sourcing/Partnering.

What is Courthouseonline.com? A National Database. Extensive Courthouse Data. –Assessment, Recorder of Deeds, Tax Claim, Clerk of Courts, Prothonatary, etc. Browser-Based Universal Access. “One-Face” Approach Across All Counties. A County’s Aide, A Professional’s Tool, and a Taxpayer’s Friend.

For more information contact: Timothy R. Barr, Director CourthouseOnline, Inc Oberlin Rd Middletown, PA (717) Tollfree (800)