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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2002
PR-085-02
www.nyc.gov


MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG HAILS CITY'S MANHATTAN
BUSINESS CENTER AS MODEL OF CITIZEN SERVICE TECHNOLOGY


Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today toured the Manhattan Business Center with Department of Finance (DOF) Commissioner Martha E. Stark and Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) Commissioner Gino Menchini to demonstrate NYCServ, the City's state-of-the-art revenue collection computer system. NYCServ has enhanced citizen service, improved efficiency across several agencies and increased revenue collection.

"New Yorkers deserve the best possible citizen service from their government, and this Business Center, with its multi-agency, integrated technology system and well-trained, courteous staff, demonstrates that the City can deliver services as well as the private sector," said Mayor Bloomberg.

The Manhattan Business Center, which is run by DOF at 66 John Street, utilizes NYCServ to allow New Yorkers to pay parking tickets, property taxes, water bills and other fees in one quick visit. NYCServ also provides New Yorkers with billing and payment information on the Internet, through DOF's website www.nyc.gov/finance. NYCServ went online in February 2002 allowing citizen's to pay for services over the Internet.

"I'm proud that the Department of Finance has taken the lead in developing NYCServ," said Commissioner Stark. "With the help of our partners in other agencies, our talented staff and IBM, we've made life easier for New Yorkers, reduced the number of billing errors and helped bring in more revenue, which ultimately benefits all New Yorkers."

Participating City agencies include the Department of Environmental Protection, which includes the Environmental Protection Board, Department of Health, Department of Consumer Affairs, Taxi and Limousine Commission, Department of Transportation and the Police Department.

Since the Manhattan Business Center opened in February 2001, the average wait time per customer has dropped from 15 to 6 minutes. Since August 2000, when it became possible to pay parking summonses over the Internet, the Finance Department has processed almost 400,000 tickets, and collected nearly $35 million in payments by credit card. In March 2002 alone, the DOF processed 39,076 tickets by credit card and collected $2,428,098.

New Yorkers can contest tickets online as well as pay them, by printing a copy of their tickets and conducting a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge via email. Individuals can also track down towed cars and pay certain business taxes.

NYCServ is currently available in each borough business center except Brooklyn, which is expected to be online in a few months. Several other payments and services will be available through NYCServ in the next few months including:

The DOF website, a source of information about parking, property and many tax-related matters, has seen a huge increase in traffic since its inception. The agency web page recorded 1.3 million views in FY2002, an increase of 165 percent over last year.

"NYCServ marks the beginning of a new era of efficiency and citizen service in City government and NYCServ fits seamlessly with the 311 system under development," concluded Michael Bloomberg. "I am committed to making New York City a leader in governmental efficiency and computerization."

 

www.nyc.gov

Contact: Ed Skyler / Jordan Barowitz
(212) 788-2958
Jim Moses (DOF)
(212) 669-4861