OC Animal Care License Collection Process

About the Program

Category: Financial Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

In May of 2011, OC Animal Care sent an automated file of delinquent licenses to the Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector (TTC) for follow-up and collection. This file represented the first time that OC Animal Care had proactively attempted to collect on a large group of expired dog licenses.OC Animal Care consulted with our internal Accounting and IT departments and the County’s TTC, to put together a process where these delinquent accounts would be sent to TTC automatically for collections. By using a specially designed application, detailed information was sent to the collections division of the County for the purpose of billing on all past due licensing and penalty fees.The program was initially implemented in order to increase licensing compliance rates for all of OC Animal Care’s contract cities and County areas. As a result of this program, there has not only been an increase of 7% in licensing compliance rates, but also a 10% reduction in the number of dogs impounded. Additionally, there was a marked increase in licensing revenue as a result of the increased collections efforts. This increase in revenue has subsequently allowed OC Animal Care to avoid major budget and staffing cuts.