Treasurer outlines push to expand e-notices and changes to payment processor; printing vendor MasterTouch remains tied to service

Kim, representing the treasurer's office, briefed the commission Oct. 2 on increases in electronic payments and a push to expand e-notices for tax and billing notices. The treasurer's office is piloting a sign-up incentive (a $5 gift card) to encourage residents to accept e-notices and is coordinating printing with the vendor MasterTouch so printed and electronic notices align.

Kim said that e-payment and ACH volumes are growing and that the office intends to switch to a new credit-card processor early next year to reduce merchant fees by piggybacking on a statewide contract. "Part of that's with the ERP that's been implemented... we're getting a better rate and, we'll get good service from them as well," Kim said.

Why it matters

The treasurer seeks to reduce recurring postage and printing costs and increase electronic payment adoption. Commissioners asked whether the e-notice pilot includes confirmation steps and how to handle residents who do not open email notices; staff explained sign-up includes an email-confirmation step and that printing remains the default for unconfirmed addresses.

Clarifying details

- Staff said the county currently mails or emails on the order of 150,000 parcels (figures cited in the meeting ranged between about 150,000 and 230,000 parcels); staff described parcel counts as increasing year over year.

- The treasurer's office plans to switch credit-card processors and expects small savings for both card and e-check transactions; the new processor will be implemented with the county ERP.

Next steps

Commissioners tentatively approved changing postage, tax-expense and ACH/processor top-line entries from 1-time to ongoing in the treasurer's draft budget; staff will return exact counts and cost-savings estimates and will continue the e-notice pilot and vendor negotiation.