Letter to the Editor: Editorial response

Dear Editor:

In this age of data mining, the last place citizens should be concerned about their personal data being online is from their own county government.

Missouri citizens are required by law to report personal property and pay taxes. But our county officials are NOT required by law to publish those records online.

Personal property records can be maintained by our elected officials as “open” in the office-holders possession, and those same records can be requested by contacting the courthouse directly. This in no way restricts the availability of those records, and it not only secures the individual citizen’s privacy, it also adds a layer of accountability to the process — something that is sorely lacking with online programs like DEVNET/Wedge.

By adding a personal login with both a username and password or pin number, individuals will still have access to check their tax records and to pay their taxes online, while their personal tax information will have an added layer of security and protection.

When others want access, they may contact the courthouse for that information. With this time-saving software, the county officials can do their job of providing information to businesses and individuals who might need it, and the private citizen will have a measure of confidence that their personal information is secure.

Maybe Worth County will lead the way. County governments can be proactive in serving their citizens by offering both an online payment portal AND protecting taxpayer information. This is not an unreasonable expectation.

Sincerely,

Julia Wideman

Grant City, Missouri