County Treasurer Calls for Outsourcing Amid Work Backlog Crisis

In a recent work session of the Beaver County Board of Commissioners, Treasurer's Office representatives highlighted significant operational challenges stemming from an influx of work and a backlog of tasks. The office reported a dramatic increase in refund requests, rising from an average of 185 per year to 715, with each refund requiring approximately one hour to process due to complications with the new Tyler software system.

The Treasurer noted that the software's limitations have led to manual entry of data, particularly for direct transfers, which has compounded the workload and resulted in a tripling of error reports compared to previous years. The office is also grappling with the complexities of managing around 100 county bank accounts, necessitating frequent reconciliations and daily money transfers to support various departments.

To alleviate the strain on staff, many of whom are new and still in training, the Treasurer proposed outsourcing bank reconciliations and the printing of 2025 tax bills. The estimated cost for outsourcing the printing to Phoenix would be $24,000, compared to $17,500 for in-house production last year. Additionally, the Treasurer mentioned potential hourly rates for external firms to handle bank reconciliations, ranging from $125 to $165, estimating that the process could take between three to six days each month.

The Treasurer emphasized the urgent need for support, stating that the current workload is unsustainable and is affecting both staff training and overall office efficiency. The proposal will be considered by the commissioners as they seek solutions to improve operations within the Treasurer's Office.