GAINING EFFICIENCIES IN
A COUNTY OFFICE
Steve Weber, CPA
Will County Treasurer
STEVE WEBERCertified Public Accountant, 1986Bachelor in Accounting, Lewis UniversityChief Deputy Auditor, 1986-2000Will County Auditor, 2000-2008Elected Treasurer in 2010
WILL COUNTY TREASURER Collects $1.62 Billion Property Tax Levy
273,000 Parcels Manages $350 Million County Funds 20 Full-Time Employees $1.56 Million Budget
Inherited $150,000 Deficit on Day One
CHALLENGES Office Without a Mission
Spent 10 Years in NeutralEmphasis Drifted to CollectionLack of InnovationReactive, not Proactive
Managers honestly thought there was nothing they could improve or do better.
FIRST STEPS Focused on Employee Morale
One-On-One Meetings with Staff Employee Focus Group (without
Managers) Identified 16 Employee-Based Changes Implemented 15/16 by Year’s End
Managers Must “Lead from the Front”
PLAYING CATCH UP Tax Bill Outsourced Completely Re-wrote Investment Policy Strengthened Office Security
Change the Safe Combination (10 Years) Installed Back-Office Panic Buttons Installed Doors to Separate Staff from PublicAdded Armored Car Service
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT Actively Seek Cost Savings Evaluate on Three Criteria
Suitability (Would it work?)Feasibility (Can it be made to work?)Acceptability (Will it work?)
Shaved $244,000 in Operating Expenses
NO SACRED COWSWe reduced cost and increased service by aggressively negotiating with banks.
OUT-SOURCINGWe regained an entire month for our employees to focus on their primary job.
CREDIT CARD FEESWe leveraged our $100 Million Credit Card Portfolio for lower fees and improved service for staff and public.
TRANSPARENCYWe reduced FOIA requests by 95% by publishing common information online.
THE CUBEWe saved $9,326 by mailing our Tax Sale notices as registered mail.
THE 4/10 WORKWEEKWe reduced total overtime to $1,806 by introducing flex-time schedules.
UNCLAIMED FUNDSYes, Will County “lost” a $140,000 check to Cash Dash and didn’t know it.
PAPERLESS TAX BILLS
Next Step
PAPERLESS TAX BILLBenefits Challenges
Reduce Associated Cost of Mailing Bills
Anytime Access Quicker Delivery Encourages Online
Payment
No Illinois Case Law Confirmed Delivery Low Adoption Rate Few Vendor Options
PAPERLESS TAX BILLSKEY FINDINGSPopulation: 1,698Responses: 409Margin of Error: 4%
Yes78%
No20%
NR2%
Currently Receive Bills Online
PAPERLESS TAX BILLSKEY FINDINGSPopulation: 1,698Responses: 409Margin of Error: 4%
Yes65%
No34%
NR2%
Pay Property Taxes Online
PAPERLESS TAX BILLSKEY FINDINGSPopulation: 1,698Responses: 409Margin of Error: 4%
Very In-terested
46%
Somewhat In-terested
22%
Neutral11%
Somewhat Un-interested
5%
Very Uninterested17%
Interested in Paperless Tax Bills
PAPERLESS TAX BILLSKEY FINDINGSPopulation: 1,698Responses: 409Margin of Error: 4%
Very Likely59%
Somewhat Likely17%Neutral
7%
Somewhat Un-likely3%
Very Unlikely12%
No Response1%
Likely to Use/Take Paperless Tax Bill
PAPERLESS TAX BILL We Anticipate Low Adoption for Levy
2012 Will Need a Solution for Levy 2013 Vendor Interviews
No Pure FitCost Per Email (CPE) Above First Class
Stamp
We Expect to Take an In-House Approach
GAINING EFFICIENCIES IN
A COUNTY OFFICE
Steve Weber, CPA
Will County Treasurer
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