For Tax Collector Chuck Perdue, one of the primary focuses while campaigning for his job in 2016 was to improve the technology of the Tax Collector’s Office. Anyone interacting with the tax collector’s office in the past five years can recognize the technological improvements implemented. From a more user-friendly website where online payments can be made easily, to registration renewal kiosks located in two Publix stores in Bay County, Perdue is working to provide customers with more service options.
While many see these improvements as evolving with the times, there are some who are a little resistant to the increased use of technology, fearing this technology replaces jobs and leads to lack of personalized service. However, Tax Collector Chuck Perdue is quick to point out that these technology advancements have allowed his team to better serve citizens without reducing jobs and all while providing greater personalized service.
“Over the past five years, one of the main areas we focused on was getting our team members the tools they needed to do their jobs more efficiently. Having systems that work easily and cut down on the administrative requirements allows more time for our team to work with customers face-to-face,” said Perdue. “Some of these same systems also allow us to provide online services to our customers in a more user-friendly manner.”
Perdue added the increased availability of online services not only offers greater convenience for customers who don’t want to have to make a trip to the office, but it also provides his team with a greater capacity to serve the face-to-face customers.
“Some services are very quick transactions for the most part, tag renewals and property tax payments, and when we have a significant increase in the number of customers choosing to do these quick service transactions online, it allows us to provide better service to those customers with more complicated transactions such as title work and driver license services, “said Perdue.
Since taking office in 2017, Perdue has increased staffing by seven team members, but through improved systems and expanded service offerings has managed to increase revenues and the excess fees returned to the taxing authorities. This year, the tax collector’s office returned over $1.7 million to the taxing authorities.
“Bay County is growing at a significant rate. In order for us to be able to serve the additional customers who are moving here, we do encourage customers to take advantage of the online service offerings,” said Perdue. “Within a matter of minutes, customers can pay taxes online through their bank account, verify their taxes are paid, and print a receipt.”
Online services have also cut down on the number of mail payments which must be processed and require individual handling. Additionally, fewer payments mailed also means a reduced number of payments which must be returned due to the wrong payment amount submitted.
“Prior to the new systems implemented, it sometimes took several weeks for mailed in property tax payments to be posted. We are currently able to process the mail in 24 hours and have the payments posted. This cuts down on the number of phone calls inquiring if we’ve received payment,’’ said Perdue. “It also allows us to use our team members to focus on other office needs such as training new team members and assisting with our frontline customers.”
“We love interacting and visiting with our customers. However, we recognize life is busy,” said Perdue. “Some services require a trip to our office, but for those that don’t, we want customers who feel comfortable and desire the convenience of online service to have it available.”
Online service offerings can be accessed at BayTaxCollector.com.
