The county is now beginning the final phase of the project that will allow residents to view digital property maps online.

Janice Hart, county revenue commissioner, said the department’s $586,300 budget – which was approved Monday – includes funding $90,000 to complete the project.

“That money includes maintenance, salaries, software and hardware and a contract to complete the aerial photography and digital mapping,” Hart said. “We’ve just been waiting for the OK on the budget to move forward.”

Hart said the county will use the “Flagship” program, which also is used in Choctaw, Crenshaw, Geneva and Coffee counties; however, will be “several years” before the project is completed due to the amount of information that must be digitized.

During the last two years, the department has received some $50,000 in grant funds to help offset the cost of the entire project. Hart said she will continue to seek grant funds to help defray the cost even more.