Chair Lee on barriers identified in underserved communities and information equity
Lee asks what barriers DOF has identified and what changes have been implemented. Commissioner Lee emphasizes information equity, noting that documents like the Notice of Property Value are difficult to understand, and commits to improving clarity in mailings and website communications.
Okay, your plan also referenced identifying barriers to access and underserved communities.
What barriers has the agency identified so far and what policy or operational changes have been implemented in response?
So I could answer that a little bit.
You know, one of the core
goals that I've come on board with Department of Finance, and this is something I tell a lot of my staff, is that Department of Finance in the past, when we've been giving out information, it's not always understandable, right?
Information equity is a really big thing.
If a person receives their NLPV, their notice of property value, it's really difficult to understand.
And for even myself, when I bought my first home, I looked at the thing, I didn't really know what it said, right?
And so one of the core priorities that I have right now is in all of our information, whether it's through mailings or our website,
that we're properly informing and bettering the equity of information so that people are able to better understand what their situation is, what opportunities they have, or what other pathways they might have in order to absolve any of the situations or be in a better position,
accessing abatement programs and whatever it might be.
So I would say over the next year, I'm hoping to improve upon that so that our information equity outwards to communities who don't typically have that access are going to be in a better position.
Thank you.
So,