Don Gackel, chair of the California County Assessors Information Technology Authority, gave a detailed update on Oct. 22 about the JPA’s work to modernize assessor technology statewide. He said the authority was created under Revenue and Taxation Code provisions and was formed on Nov. 15, 2022; the JPA grew from 16 to 33 counties and received three state installments of $10 million in 2022, 2023 and 2024. "In that first year, we did receive our first installment of $10,000,000 from the state," Gackel said.

The JPA ran a proof of concept in 2024 and issued the RFP for a production Prop 19 exemptions portal on 04/28/2025. Gackel reported that written proposals from four companies were evaluated and that three firms — including Oracle and Tyler Technologies — were invited to contract discussions to ensure the authority secures competitive terms before recommending a final vendor. He said the proposed system is intended to be modular so counties may participate to the degree they choose, from full implementation to limited data‑exchange functions.

Board members asked how counties that did not join the JPA could later participate; Gackel said availability would be built into the implementation model. Several assessors and BOE members said the technology work could provide a model for building a statewide assessment appeals application portal for clerks of the board if funding follows. Timeline references in the meeting suggested the JPA expects to have a vendor under contract and a model to show the legislature by mid‑2026.