“This is an exciting development for King County - making services accessible over the Internet,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “The increase in service convenience and accessibility responds to the public’s demand for online services. And these two programs are only the beginning. King County is well positioned to handle the public’s future eCommerce government service needs.”

“The County Council has focused in recent years on measures that will both reduce costs and improve service to county residents, and the eCommerce program is directly in line with these goals,” said Councilmember Dow Constantine. “I am pleased we are taking steps that will lead us toward greater fiscal stability and better customer service.”

“While president of the National Association of Counties, I led efforts to use technology to make government more accessible and accountable, and hosted a national technology summit here in Seattle that attracted over 300 county leaders from around the nation,” said Councilmember Jane Hague, vice-chair of the Council’s Labor, Operations and Technology Committee. “I also oversee strategic technology initiatives here at home so it is very exciting to see we have reached a point where our constituents are getting on-line rather than in line.”

In 2003 and 2004 the County set up pilot programs allowing residents to go online to purchase pet licenses (ePets) and pay their real estate property taxes (eTax). Based on the success of those pilot programs, the county is implementing these eCommerce services, with more to come.

In the space of a week, from October 25 through November 1, King County received over 1,000 property tax payments worth more than $2.3 million via the eTax service. In that same week, pet owners purchased 69 licenses via ePets.

To use ePets and/or eTaxes services, the “purchaser” simply goes to King County’s Web site at www.metrokc.gov and click on the links to the various eCommerce services. The payment options currently available to the public are:

• eTax: Payment of non-delinquent real estate property taxes may be made using an “e-check” that is debited against the taxpayer’s bank account. The taxpayer is charged only 95 cents for an e-check transaction and receives a confirming email that their tax payment has been received by the King County Treasury. The eTax system will be available to taxpayers again starting in mid-February 2005 after first-half property tax bills are mailed out.

• ePets: Payments for pet licenses may be made via credit card. The transaction fee for credit card processing is $1.49 per shopping cart (i.e. any number of pets licensed at one time). An option for using the lower cost e-check payment method is under consideration for early next year.

Find the ePets link at
www.metrokc.gov