Friday, January 14, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, (573)751-1378
Blunt Announces New Department of Revenue Fee Office Plan
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt announced today that the Missouri Department of Revenue will be requiring new fee agents to implement a "Fee Agent's Plan for Success," developed to ensure fee agents are being held accountable for the services they provide to Missourians.
New fee agents selected will be required to complete the plan and submit it to the director of revenue. The fee agents will also be required to:
- Hold regular office hours and in some instances extended office hours
- Inventory tracking
- Improve cash management and revenue reporting practices
- Improve employees training
In order to hold fee offices accountable, the plan will enforce stringent penalties and newly established consequences for fee offices that fail to meet their financial obligation for rejected applications.
Blunt also announced that Director of Revenue Trish Vincent is working to implement an automated licensing, titling, and registration system called the Field Automated System for Titling and Registration (FASTR). The system, developed in 1995 but never fully implemented, will create immediate efficiencies and long-term budget savings for the department. Vincent was informed in early December that more than $17 million in Missouri tax dollars have been spent on the program, but previous department directors have provided little oversight over the implementation process.
The state purchased $1.8 million worth of computer equipment in late 2000 or early 2001 and then began making monthly storage payments of approximately $2,000 per month. A state audit conducted in 2002 did not mention any of the purchases and expenses or give a status update on the project. No other audits mentioned the problem either.
Blunt directed Vincent to begin developing an implementation plan before either of them were sworn into office. The project will be fully implemented within the year.
"The fact that this egregious waste of taxpayer dollars was perpetuated by the Department of Revenue for the past nine years and overlooked by the state auditor for the last six provides more incentive to change the way state government operates," Blunt said. "Missouri taxpayers deserve better from their government and my administration will be constantly focused on identifying waste and abuse and enhancing state services."