Dolores County board approves pursuing AutoAgent tax-payment contract, contingent on legal review

The Dolores County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 3 voted to authorize the county treasurer to pursue a contract with AutoAgent, a third‑party company that provides a web portal for taxpayers to make up to 12 monthly property-tax payments. The approval is contingent on the treasurer and county attorney resolving contract language and any cancellation-fee clauses before signatures are exchanged.

Treasurer (presenter) told the board that AutoAgent would import publicly available tax-roll files and allow taxpayers to set up monthly payments with the vendor; the vendor would then remit funds to the county on the statutory deadlines. The treasurer said the vendor charges fees to customers for payment processing and that the county would not pay a usage fee, though the draft contract includes a three-year commitment and potential fees if the county cancels early.

Board members asked about likely uptake in a county with an older population and about privacy and mortgage‑company interactions. The treasurer said the vendor would not receive nonpublic personal‑identifying information from the county beyond what the county already provides publicly in tax-roll files, and that mortgage companies often use similar files to manage tax payments. She said the vendor can take over file distribution to mortgage companies, and that the treasurer’s office could set up fees charged when mortgage companies download files.

One commissioner moved to approve engaging AutoAgent and to authorize contract signature subject to the county attorney’s review and agreed contract revisions; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Staff said the draft contract will be circulated to commissioners for review before execution.

Next steps: legal review of the draft contract, circulation of the finalized language to the board, and return for signature when counsel and staff are satisfied that cancellation and fee provisions are clarified.