Challenges and Recommendations in Leveraging Property and Property Owner Data to Inform Government Programs

This management paper presents a look at the challenges that local and state governments face when trying to access and use property and property owner data to inform their programs and policies. An example from New York State illuminates the issues associated with the collection, management, sharing, and use of this type of administrative data, typically collected within the local jurisdiction. This management paper presents how data quality and the capability to share are significant challenges for many government agencies as they try to obtain access and use this highly sought data to inform their programs in tax and finance, economic development, code enforcement. This paper details the data access and use challenges they face, and sets forth a small set of recommendations for moving ahead in leveraging property and property owner data. Finally, this paper offers recommendations for action so that government leaders can continue to leverage property and owner data in essential policies and critical programs.