Tyler Tech Podcast
How Homestead, Florida Is Modernizing Civic Services
Why It Matters
Modernizing municipal services with data‑centric, citizen‑focused platforms is essential for cities facing rapid growth and post‑COVID expectations for anytime, anywhere access. Homestead’s experience shows how streamlined digital tools can boost economic development, reduce bureaucratic delays, and enhance accountability—insights that are directly applicable to other mid‑size U.S. municipalities seeking to stay competitive and resilient.
Key Takeaways
- •Unified digital platform gives 24/7 resident access.
- •Data-driven dashboards cut permit processing time.
- •Integrated payments eliminate manual, fragmented transactions.
- •Executive leadership and clear North Star drive transformation.
- •Process audits prevent bad workflows before software implementation.
Pulse Analysis
The City of Homestead faced the same post‑COVID crossroads many midsize municipalities encounter: rising demand, fragmented legacy systems, and manual permitting that slowed growth. Residents and businesses were forced to drive to City Hall for simple tasks such as fence permits or payment, while code officers spent 45 minutes just opening a case. City leaders recognized that without a modern, citizen‑first approach, Homestead could not become the economic engine it aspired to be in South Dade. The pressure to improve accessibility, efficiency, and accountability set the stage for a digital overhaul.
Homestead’s answer was a unified enterprise platform from Tyler Technologies that combined permitting, licensing, payments and cash‑sharing into a single portal. The system provides 24/7 online access, real‑time dashboards, and automated notifications, turning opaque processes into transparent, data‑driven workflows. Permit timelines that once stretched beyond 90 days are now tracked from submission to issuance, allowing staff to pinpoint bottlenecks and reallocate resources instantly. Integrated online payments eliminated the need for in‑person cash handling, and code‑compliance officers can open cases from the field, cutting paperwork and response time dramatically.
The results speak for themselves: faster permits, higher resident satisfaction, and a clear metric‑based roadmap for future growth. Kamar Brown stresses that executive sponsorship and a well‑defined North Star are non‑negotiable, as is a rigorous audit of existing processes before any software rollout. Cities should prioritize cross‑functional teams, automate routine notifications, and set measurable success criteria early on. With a solid digital foundation, Homestead can now experiment with next‑generation tools like DigiPlan and stay ahead of the curve. Other municipalities can replicate this playbook to break down silos, boost transparency, and scale services sustainably.
Episode Description
In this Tyler Tech Podcast episode, Kemarr Brown, deputy city manager for the city of Homestead, Florida, discusses how the city transformed service delivery to better support residents and businesses amid rapid growth. Recorded live at Tyler Connect 2026 in Las Vegas, the conversation highlights Homestead’s modernization journey — an effort recognized with a Tyler Excellence Award for its impact and results.
Like many local governments, Homestead faced challenges stemming from fragmented systems, manual processes, and limited visibility across departments. Permitting applications required in-person submissions or manual emails, code compliance officers spent significant time creating cases instead of working in the field, and online payments were unavailable for most services. These inefficiencies slowed service delivery and made it harder for the city to respond to rising demand.
Kemarr shares how Homestead addressed these challenges by implementing a unified, enterprise-wide digital platform, including Tyler’s Enterprise Permitting & Licensing and integrated payments solutions. By replacing disconnected systems with a single source of truth, the city created 24/7 digital access, real-time workflow visibility, and greater transparency for both staff and the community. Leaders can now track permitting timelines, identify bottlenecks, and use data — not intuition — to guide decisions and target limited resources where they matter most.
The conversation also explores the leadership and change-management side of digital transformation. Kemarr emphasizes the importance of executive alignment, clearly defining a “north star,” auditing existing processes before implementing new technology, and partnering closely with staff to design workflows that support compliance while making it easier to do business with the city.
This episode offers practical insights for city and county leaders looking to modernize service delivery, improve transparency, and scale for future growth. It reinforces how a strong digital foundation can help governments operate more efficiently while building trust with the communities they serve — advancing Tyler’s mission to help people, places, and communities thrive.
This episode also highlights the 2026 State CIO Priorities Playbook, designed to help government leaders turn strategy into action. The playbook provides practical insights, real-world examples, and actionable guidance across top priorities like AI, cybersecurity, modernization, accessibility, and digital services.
2026 State CIO Priorities Playbook: From Planning to Execution: Turning Priorities Into Progress
And learn more about the topics discussed in this episode with these resources:
Download: NASCIO 2026 State CIO Top 10 Priorities
Download: AI for Impact: Proven Results for Government
Download: Modern Governments Live in the Cloud
Download:Building a Resilient Government
Read:How Digital Services Shape Public Trust in Local Government
Listen to other episodes of the podcast.
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