Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Clerk Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clerk/Auditor asks commissioners to fund cross‑training, extended hours and digital services for tax and clerk offices
Summary
Chris, the county clerk/auditor, asked commissioners to reclassify and promote seasoned staff, cross‑train employees, add limited part‑time hours, and invest up to $15,000 in a restricted enterprise software fund to support electronic valuation notices and an electronic customer check‑in system to reduce waits and postage costs.
Chris, the county clerk/auditor, told commissioners the clerk and tax administration offices need reclassifications and promotions to align pay with current duties and to expand services without adding full‑time staff. He said specialists who now handle single tasks (passports, marriage licenses, board of equalization, tax relief) should be cross‑trained so “whoever's there” can serve any citizen who walks in, and proposed creating team‑lead roles to staff extended hours for early mornings, evenings and some weekends.
Chris outlined two technology investments intended to reduce manual work and postage: an electronic valuation notice system and an electronic customer check‑in system. The check‑in system would let visitors mark the reason for their visit, learn what paperwork to bring, and, when possible, fill forms electronically to reduce retyping. For the valuation/notice system, Chris requested a $15,000 enterprise software placeholder to be held in restricted funds until the office identifies a system that meets its needs.
On service expansion, Chris said the department seeks to move marriage‑license processes online, implement countywide digital signatures for contracts, and become a full‑service passport acceptance office. He emphasized these passport services would be fee‑based and expected to generate revenue to offset costs. Commissioners praised the clerk/auditor's outcomes‑based approach during the presentation and expressed support for the proposals.
The presentation contained no formal motions or votes; commissioners asked clarifying questions about which budget items were general‑funded and the operational impact of adding part‑time staff. The office characterized merchant account fee increases as a function of volume (fees are recovered) and noted IT programming requests would primarily support an online marriage‑license portal.
The clerk/auditor concluded the office's objectives are to improve customer convenience, shorten transaction times, and increase county efficiency. The commissioners paused the session to move to the next agenda item.
