STARS Paperless Case and Fiscal Management System

About the Program

Category: Financial Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

As part of an ongoing effort to provide stellar service to the community and County vendors, increase efficiency and reduce Palm Beach County's carbon footprint, the Palm Beach County Community Services Department, along with the County’s Information System Services Department (ISS), recently implemented the paperless STARS (Senior Tracking and Referral System) program. This full-service case and fiscal management system handles all aspects of servicing clients of the Division of Senior Services (DOSS), from prescribing services to final payments to the vendors. STARS also manages the tracking of grant funds and expenditure projections and includes an online payment portal for vendors servicing DOSS. Using this system, vendors now submit their invoices electronically using the county's secure web portal. The electronic invoices are reviewed by Community Services' fiscal staff and then forwarded to the Clerk & Comptroller's Office for final processing and electronic storage. Approved invoices are uploaded to the County’s financial system which will generate a check to the vendor. STARS not only saves paper, but allows for expedited requests for services, accuracy in tracking expenses, and quicker payment to the vendors who provide essential services to senior citizens of Palm Beach County. This increase in efficiency allows the Department’s Division of Senior Services to focus on their ultimate goal of providing high-quality services to help senior citizens attain optimal independence and promote quality of life for seniors and their caregivers.