Archon Information Systems, L.L.C. (“Archon”) is a
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
corporation that provides technology and collection services to government clients.
The focus of Archon's services is the collection and management of delinquent
ad valorem
An ''ad valorem'' tax (Latin for "according to value") is a tax whose amount is based on the value of a transaction or of property. It is typically imposed at the time of a transaction, as in the case of a sales tax or value-added tax (VAT). An ...
taxes, which are local governments' major source of revenue. Software development is the core of Archon’s business model, and utilizes the
test-driven development
Test-driven development (TDD) is a software development process relying on software requirements being converted to test cases before software is fully developed, and tracking all software development by repeatedly testing the software against al ...
design method. The company's best-known software products are the CivicSource brand of proprietary software, including CivicSource Administrator (for management of property taxes) and CivicSource Auctioneer (for conducting Internet-based tax and foreclosure sales). Archon's first major client, the
tax sale
A tax sale is the forced sale of property (usually real estate) by a governmental entity for unpaid taxes by the property's owner.
The sale, depending on the jurisdiction, may be a tax deed sale (whereby the actual property is sold) or a tax li ...
in the Gulf South region, and the first tax sale held in New Orleans, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans netted increased revenue in property tax collection over previous sales to date.
, Archon has representatives in states across the U.S. focused on outreach to local governments. Archon was founded in January 2008 by three professionals native to New Orleans, Louisiana. Bryan P. Barrios, chief executive officer, had been working in the legal field, specifically with local tax collections, for 12 years with a law firms in the City of New Orleans at Archon's formation. Barrios has drafted several pieces of legislation for both New Orleans and for the Louisiana State Legislature relative to the area of municipal tax collections, including the provision pertaining to online tax sales in Archon's home state.
Also at the time of formation, Chief Operations Officer Beau L. Button and Chief Technology Officer William D. Sossamon had been working in technology for over 12 years, and had worked on technology projects and contracts with multiple Fortune 500 companies before creating Archon. In 2012, both were named Top Young Entrepreneurs to Watch in New Orleans by Under30CEO.
Archon software and services has been behind multiple online tax sales throughout the State of Louisiana. These were first of its kind in the region, and the first tax sales of any kind post-Katrina. Archon services also facilitated all the statutory requirements relative to tax sale notifications, certificates and filings. The pre-tax sale collection efforts driven by Archon technology resulted in more timely collections and an increase in revenue for all of its tax sale clients.
The company has approximately 53 employees in its New Orleans headquarters.
Products
Archon develops its own software titles and offers a range of products and services; Archon also works with clients to custom-develop software.
CivicSource Software Suite
The CivicSource proprietary software suite consists of three primary components (CivicSource Administrator, CivicSource Auctioneer and CivicSource Services) that consolidate every aspect of tax management, tax collection or
tax sale
A tax sale is the forced sale of property (usually real estate) by a governmental entity for unpaid taxes by the property's owner.
The sale, depending on the jurisdiction, may be a tax deed sale (whereby the actual property is sold) or a tax li ...
. The suite provides governments the ability to search, view and edit taxable properties and owners, provides for digital management of documents associated with the delinquent properties, and provides a platform for online disposition of tax liens, tax deeds, adjudicated and foreclosed properties.
New Orleans Exchange Centre
New Orleans Exchange Centre, formerly known as Chevron Place, located at 935 Gravier Street in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, is a 21-story, -tall skyscraper designed in the international style by Stanley Muller & Associ ...