MOHAVE COUNTY–Ten years ago, as the Accountant in the Treasurer’s Department, the processing time for a Property Tax Payment (receipt at Treasurer’s Office to deposit to bank) was 4 to 6 weeks. The number of employees was at maximum capacity with temporary employees filling in to open envelopes and fulltime employees working overtime to hand process payments. 

In 2008, I implemented a Lock Box system where Property Tax Payments were sent directly to our bank and processed onsite. This was an improvement, but there was no substantial forward progression utilizing new technology after my departure in January 2009. In fact, when the Lock Box was employed there was no cost to the County. When I was elected Treasurer in 2013, the Lock Box was costing about $40,000 a year. This was never the intention. I researched solutions and moved forward quickly to resolve this inconsistency in my plan and in 2014 put into service a new computer and remittance processing system in the Treasury Office eliminating the need for a Lock Box.

The first-half Property Tax payment collection process for 2018 has been improved upon extensively since I took office in 2013. I am thrilled to report this year was better than any prior year in terms of teamwork, processing time and efficiency. The office is at one of the lowest levels of staffing and producing at the highest level yet.  Using technology and eliminating ineffective outdated practices, electronic payments are up, costs are down and the processing time for a Property Tax Payment (receipt at Treasurer’s Office to deposit to bank) is 5 to 7 days.

This is in large part due to right-sizing the department to compensate highly effective employees adequately for retention and job satisfaction, the staff jelling as a team, exploiting all uses of the technology implemented and continued monitoring, upgrading and maintaining.

Thank you, thank you and thank you again to the amazing team in the Treasury Department!

Have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

 Cindy Landa Cox, Mohave County Treasurer

Next month’s article will be from Mohave County Sheriff Doug Schuster