Jeff Green, standing in for Treasurer Maureen Norton, told the Board of County Commissioners that two separate pressures are raising the treasurer’s requested budget: higher operating costs in the Motor Vehicle (MotorV) office due to state policy shifts and rising costs to print and mail property tax statements.

Green said MotorV faces new costs because state agencies are transitioning responsibilities and no longer covering some equipment and supplies; the office therefore seeks a $24,105 increase, largely for computers, printers and consumables. He added that the county might receive a transaction fee from the state of about 10¢ per transaction if a pending state rule takes effect, but that details (which transactions the fee would apply to) remain unclear. “It sounds like that’s still kind of up in the air,” Green said, and he recommended treating part of the request as one‑time cash until the fee’s scope is certain.

For the tax office, Green said the request totals an increase of $19,606.115 — driven by higher printing and postage costs to mail tax statements. He said printing and postage have increased by about 10% per year, with an additional 7% postal increase expected in July. County staff noted the treasurer’s office received one‑time funds in prior years to cover network upgrades and that the board in FY24 authorized a small ongoing amount for toner and paper.

Commissioners supported a compromise: fund immediate motor‑vehicle equipment needs with one‑time cash where appropriate and preserve ongoing funding for tax‑statement postage that county operations rely upon. Commissioners moved to approve the treasurer’s tax‑postage ongoing line and put a related MotorV request into the budget “parking lot” to give treasurer’s staff time to clarify the state transaction‑fee details.

Green said if the Department of Justice (or other state agency) adopts a 10¢ per transaction fee and applies it broadly it could materially offset county costs, but the county must not assume the revenue until the state provides final guidance.