The Georgetown City Council is being asked to digitise several municipal services through a proposal from OneCivic, a platform designed to connect citizens with government and community services.
OneCivic co-founder Ghassan Sagga presented the proposal to the Council on Thursday, outlining a system that could allow residents to pay taxes, apply for permits and make other payments through a digital platform.
Sagga says the system would also give the Council a real-time view of its finances, including revenue, spending, contracts and projects.
“It’s a general ledger that the whole public can see. And I’m all about transparency.” he said
Sagga added that the company is prepared to provide the management system to the Council at no cost.
The proposal includes a digital wallet and rewards programme, which would allow residents to earn points when they use services, including paying taxes. Those points could then be redeemed through participating services.
Sagga says the financial management component would use blockchain technology to create a public ledger, allowing residents to see municipal revenue and the cost of projects.
The proposal, however, prompted questions about whether all residents would be able to navigate a largely digital system.
Mayor Alfred Mentore specifically raised concerns about elderly residents who may not be technologically savvy.
He asked what systems or training would be put in place to help older citizens access the platform.
Sagga says OneCivic is considering alternative ways for seniors to access services, including digital identification, fingerprints, facial recognition and unique digital numbers.
He acknowledged that privacy concerns would have to be considered, particularly where biometric information is involved.
OneCivic says its broader platform is intended to bring together civic services, payments, community programmes and other services in one digital ecosystem.
