Johnson Calls for a Tech Overhaul in Pima County

Brian Johnson is running as the Democratic candidate for Pima County treasurer in the 2024 election. Voters in Pima County received ballots later than expected, with disruptions caused by discrepancies affecting approximately 500 properties. The Recorder’s Office listed these properties in different school districts than those recorded by the Assessor’s Office, highlighting a troubling pattern in property tax administration.

Citizens have long expressed frustration over the inefficiencies in service delivery among the county’s Recorder, Assessor, and Treasurer offices. The lack of collaboration among these offices has led to a traditional culture of proprietary control rather than cohesive service for the public. This issue can be resolved by integrating their information systems for better efficiency.

In 2015, while working in the county’s Finance Department, Johnson proposed a solution to merge relevant data across these offices into a unified system. He identified three software vendors already used in Arizona, which were familiar with state business rules and processes. Unfortunately, this proposal faced immediate rejection from the elected assessor and treasurer, who opted to retain their custom systems.

Delays in processes, such as property splits and combinations, significantly affect taxpayers. These inefficiencies often lead to misallocated tax burdens and costly judicial appeals. Additionally, accurate and timely information is crucial for commercial development. Variations in property tax rates across school districts can reach up to 1.5%, impacting project planning and execution.

A robust checks-and-balances system is needed among county officials to maintain fiscal integrity, particularly in tax roll corrections. Modern vendor software could enhance this process by incorporating advanced safety features.

Technological advancements, especially in machine learning and artificial intelligence, offer measurable benefits. By adopting newer technologies, the county treasurer and other officials could significantly improve services. Many jurisdictions across the country demonstrate successful implementations of integrated data systems.

Johnson continues to advocate for Pima County to adopt an integrated data system for property-related functions, emphasizing that this includes election management as well. His opponent, Mr. Ackerley, remains resistant to these proposed solutions and maintains reliance on outdated systems.

The implementation of integrated information technology would vastly improve service delivery to Pima County citizens. Moving forward rather than holding onto the past is crucial for progress.