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