Did you know that our Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office manages more than $1.4 billion each year? This includes investing, receiving and disbursing (paying out) money for most local government agencies in the county, like local schools, special districts and county departments. On average, this office transacts more than $5 million per day. It makes sure that each agency has enough cash on-hand for its daily operations, while investing the rest to help it grow. This office also prepares and distributes tax bills, and collects property taxes, which is more than $60 million each year. All of this work is completed by a staff of just nine people.

The Treasurer-Tax Collector works closely with the Auditor-Controller when it comes to preparing property tax bills. To determine your property tax rate, the Auditor-Controller matches up your property with the appropriate taxes, taking in to account factors like exemptions, school bonds, street lighting, fire protection, and other charges that are specific to your property. This office also is responsible for many more functions. The Auditor-Controller distributes tax revenue, prepares financial reports, processes payroll for more than 2,000 employees and processes claims for payment, among other duties. Their staff is made up of just 12 employees.

Having such a small staff in each of these departments poses problems. It is especially difficult to provide back-up coverage and plan for the future as individual employees move on. In several other counties around the state these two offices are combined into a Finance Department. If we were to combine the Auditor-Controller and Treasurer-Tax Collector, how would you expect to be served better? Please note that this issue is not related to the County Assessor’s Office.