Pecos, TX adopts robotic process automation for financial management improvements
Pecos faced delays in financial processes due to a shortage of Finance Department staff. The RPA development process focused on eight areas most likely to benefit from AI-powered bots. The first round of automation handled sales tax and daily cash reconciliation from start to finish. Lessons from this initial deployment were used for automation of utility billing and IT ticket generation. Town officials will build on these successes by pursuing a fully automated accounts payable system.
Pecos, TX
United States
Travis County, TX reduces personnel time and resources spent on audits with automation project
The county's Risk Evaluation and Consulting Division experienced a 25% annual growth in property tax refunds. The weeks-long manual review process was replaced by an in-house analytics system requiring only minutes per refund request. County auditors receive emails with property tax documentation only when irregularities are found. Future uses of the automation process may include reviews of public official spending through receipt analysis.
Travis County, TX
United States
Barcelona, CT applies first-in-Spain municipal tax on delivery service use of public spaces
Barcelona established a tax on the gross income of delivery services receiving at least 1 million euros from local consumers. This tax applies to residential and commercial deliveries by vehicle with a maximum collection of 2.6 million euros per year. There is an exemption for deliveries made to collection points approved by the city and listed in a directory updated each year. A delivery service tax reduces traffic congestion and emissions from increased e-commerce use.
Barcelona, CT
Spain
Regina, SK boosts neighborhood reinvestment with Intensification & Revitalization Incentive Programs
The programs offer up to CAD 50,000 and five years of property tax exemptions for eligible projects in the City Centre, Heritage, and North Central areas. The Intensification Incentive Program covers costs ranging from environmental and traffic impact assessments to construction. Revitalization Incentive recipients use their grants for façade improvements and like-for-like building replacements. Eligible developments have not received comparable incentives or grants in the previous decade.
Regina, SK
Canada
St. Louis, MO Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund protects low-income residents at risk for foreclosures
City officials sought a method for preventing foreclosures that destabilize households and neighborhoods. The city's Collector of Revenue and Park Central Development provide grants of up to $3,500 for applicants in the final stages of foreclosure. Eligible households earn less than the area median income, paid off their mortgages, and live full-time on property. The RETAF program is funded by federal ARPA money and donations with limited spaces each year.
St. Louis, MO
United States
Clark County, NV simplifies business licensing and taxation processes with Accela collaboration
Clark County found burdensome tax and licensing processes for hospitality businesses with multiple tenants. Cloud-based tools from Accela create a single invoice and registration process for easier business compliance. The new system will be customized for simple migration of business records and integration with existing processes. County officials anticipate future use of Accela technology for cannabis and autonomous delivery businesses.
Clark County, NV
United States
Merrill, WI encourages new construction of single-family homes with incentive program
The construction incentive responds to years of minimal growth in single-family units compared to apartments. Developers and individuals can apply for credits worth $10,000 when they build on 28 designated lots. Eligible projects are located in or within a half-mile of a Tax Incremental District (TID) and appraised at $200,000 or more. Newly built homes generate revenues for development projects and expand housing options for new residents.
Merrill, WI
United States
Windsor, ON generates public feedback on budget deliberations with trio of online tools
Local residents make their voices heard about the 10-year capital plan with Prioritize. This easy-to-use tool allows a user to rank their top five capital project areas from eight categories. The Operating Budget Simulation seeks taxpayer suggestions for spending increases or decreases with a focus on a balanced budget. Homeowners can input their municipal property tax payments into the Tax Receipt Generator for itemized estimates of public expenditures.
Windsor, ON
Canada
Marquette, MI is sharing tax revenue with the local township on a new housing development
The Marquette City Commission and the Marquette Township have reached an agreement to share tax revenue from a proposed 240-home development. The city would not be responsible for providing utilities or services to the portion that overlaps with its municipal boundaries.
Marquette, MI
United States
Marquette, MI
United States
Helsingborg, SE launched a new anonymous tip service for reporting incorrect welfare subsidies
The city of Helsingborg's Health and Care Administration launched a new anonymous tip service for incorrect payments. The service was designed to prevent companies and private individuals from taking advantage of welfare by allowing anyone to notify the city directly if they suspect that someone is receiving compensation to which they are not entitled. The city investigates all tips and files a police report if they suspect a subsidy violation.
Helsingborg, SE
Sweden
Adur & Worthing Councils, GB integrate Aspire software into property inspection processes
The Councils previously used an in-house system reliant on physical documentation and weekly updates. The Aspire system maximizes personnel time and minimizes fuel costs through efficient scheduling of residential and commercial inspections. Property inspectors document additions and other impacts on valuations on their smartphones. Discounts, exemptions, and other forms of tax relief are automatically confirmed by Aspire during annual tax calculations.
Adur & Worthing Councils, GB
United Kingdom
Maui County, HI is offering a property tax break to help longtime residents retain ancestral lands
Maui County is offering a specialized property tax break to help longtime residents retain their ancestral lands. According to the new "Āina Kupuna" measure, any families who have owned their properties for at least three generations or over 80 years are now only obligated to pay the minimum property tax of $350 per year. The measure was created to reduce the burden of rising property taxes due to skyrocketing real estate values.
Maui County, HI
United States