SANTA CRUZ — Santa Cruz County has released a new app that it says will streamline access to county services for local residents.
MySCCounty+, currently available on the App Store and Google Play, represents a new technological advancement for the county by allowing residents to purchase and store digital permits and other credentials on their electronic devices.
This new app builds on features released in 2015 through the Citizen Connect app (later renamed My Santa Cruz County). This includes accessing community services, applying for public benefits, signing up for emergency alerts, reporting potholes, abandoned vehicles, and tracking progress in resolving issues.
“With the release of the new MySCCounty+ app, the county has taken a technological leap forward that will help lay the foundation for fully secure county services anytime, anywhere,” Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Chairman Zach Friend said in a county release. Stated. “No other local government in California is as committed to leveraging the power of technology to serve their residents.”
Additionally, the app also allows visiting relatives and others to secure RV parking permits on roads that are not part of the law. The app allows public safety officials and residents to quickly check whether someone has a permit without contacting the permit holder. Additional permits and other available credentials will be included in future updates to the app, according to a county release.
The app was launched in partnership with HUMBL, a San Diego-based technology company that develops mobile apps for digital payments, including transactions based on blockchain technology. According to a release, MySCCounty+ is the first municipal app developed in partnership with local governments in California.
The app is free to download from the App Store and Google Play and includes a library of credentials called the Vault, where important documents and selected permits are kept securely. According to the release, HUMBL does not store or access users’ financial information, and like other apps, MySCCounty+ can use biometrics for login as an additional layer of security.
The app also helps users register to vote, view or pay their property tax bill, view zoning information, review restaurant inspection reports, find county job openings, and explore the county’s parks network.
new county app
What it is: MySCCounty+ allows residents to purchase digital permits and other credentials and store them on their electronic devices.
How: Available on the App Store and Google Play.
Timing: Available now.