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Dolores County approves Auto Agent tax‑payment contract contingent on legal review
Summary
The county voted to approve entering a three‑year Auto Agent contract that would let taxpayers make 12 monthly payments via a third party; approval is contingent on contract revisions and legal review to clarify cancellation fee language.
The Dolores County Board of Commissioners voted Nov. 3 to approve entering a contract with Auto Agent, a vendor that offers a third‑party 12‑month tax‑payment service, contingent on the county and legal counsel finalizing contract language.
Treasurer (presenter) told the board the vendor creates a secure portal that allows taxpayers to make monthly payments to the company, which then deposits funds to the county on existing tax deadlines. "They handle the customers. It's completely through them," the Treasurer said, adding the vendor would import county tax rolls electronically to calculate estimated tax amounts for customers.
Board members asked about customer fees, data privacy and the contract term. The Treasurer said customers — not the county — would pay convenience fees (she cited typical card fees of about $2 plus a percentage for credit‑card transactions) and that the company would only receive information that the county already makes public in tax files (parcel ID, owner name, tax amount). The Treasurer said the vendor currently requires a three‑year commitment and that she and a fellow official were negotiating language to clarify any cancellation fees.
Supporters told the board the service could help residents who prefer to spread tax payments across a year; opponents raised questions about how spreading payments might interact with school and other distribution schedules. The Treasurer said the vendor would still remit funds to the county on its established deadlines so the county’s payout schedule to schools would not change.
The board voted unanimously to approve moving forward with the contract and to allow the Treasurer to sign once contract language is resolved and legal counsel has reviewed the agreement.
The action was approved with the condition that the county attorney and Treasurer resolve the contract's cancellation provisions and any legal concerns before final execution.
