Douglas County Nebraska Treasurer's Business Model

About the Program

Category: County Administration and Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

The Douglass County Treasurer’s Office was faced with severe funding challenges that necessitated its staff to consider innovative ways to collect the taxes from the citizens. It required a wholesale examination of the processes by which the office has operated in the past, while processing 670,000 transactions per year. “Business as usual” was not going to allow the Treasurer’s Office to meet budget restraints imposed by the County Board. Through a combination of surveys, unprecedented alternative payment methods, radio advertisement, mail fliers, staff reductions, after-hours drop boxes, cross-training staff, and office innovations, the Treasurer has been able to reduce its budget by 5.3 percent, more than what was originally requested, with no layoffs, while actually enhancing services. Use of non-traditional payment methods have grown from 5 percent (just mail) in 2007 to 26 percent (online, telephone, and mail) of the total payments received in 2010. This has allowed the treasurer’s Office to realize significant staff reductions, from 115 staff members in 2007 to 103 expected in spring of 2011, for an average annual savings in personnel costs of $480,000 plus benefits. This chance in the business model will also lead to the Treasurer’s Office consolidating locations from six to three offices; offering savings in rent, utilities, maintenance, and cleaning costs, estimated to be $326,000 per year.