BENTON -- Scott County Collector Mark Hensley wants to make tax season more efficient for residents as well as his office this year.
He has purchased a dropbox for after-hours payment that will be installed soon. And on Thursday's meeting, he brought up the idea of opening a satellite office in Sikeston for a couple of hours two days a week to the county commissioners.
"I've been toying with this for quite some time," said Hensley. "I think that would be the biggest tool, to help us help the people."
About 40 percent of the county's taxpayers live in or near Sikeston and Miner and a Sikeston office would save them the cost of gas and leaving work early, he said.
"I think we should proceed," said Jamie Burger, presiding commissioner.
Hensley said he would likely man the office from 4 to 6 p.m. twice a week. An office location has not yet been selected.
He suggested renting unused office space in an existing business to keep costs down. Sheriff Rick Walter also offered the use of his satellite office at the Sikeston Factory Outlet stores. There, however, visibility may be a concern, Hensley said.
Other than rent, the only other foreseeable cost is to purchase a printer. Hensley said both would be paid for out of his tax maintenance fund. "That way it wouldn't put a burden on the county general revenue," he said.
To keep records, Hensley said he would use his laptop, on which he backs up work every night, mostly as a safety issue. "So if something were to happen at the courthouse, I would be up and running the next morning," he said.
Hensley said he wants to promote it as a pilot program. "If people are going to use it and it's worthwhile, then it's definitely a good choice," he said. Rita Milam, county clerk, also mentioned that she may have a use for the office, too, when dealing with voter registration for next year's presidential election.
"So it's gone from a county collector's to a county satellite office," Hensley said.
In other news, Joe Burton, the county's emergency management director, updated the commissioners on some new developments.
The state of Missouri is beginning a sister city and county program. "If we have a sister county and we get in trouble we can call on them for aid," Burton said.
Burton said a similar program is in place in Arkansas and "it works well." He also informed them of an e-mail he received regarding interoperability money the state will receive. Officials are considering buying equipment to connect all the E-911 centers.
Burger noted that while the state is purchasing the equipment, it is more expensive to maintain and the counties have to pick up the tab. "I just think at some point in time we need to tell them that we're enhanced all we can be enhanced until we can get some help paying for it," he said.
Commissioner Ron McCormick asked if the idea of regional centers had advanced.
Burton said there has been talk of organizing similar to the Highway Patrol, which would make Scott County a part of Troop E.
"It has to be up to the locals to do that," Burton said. "The state isn't going to push it."
But with the loss of user fees that goes along with the decreasing number of landlines, some county's programs will be pushed to their limits and won't be able to stretch their budgets any further, Burton said.
"You're going to see centers shutting down," he said. "Possibly beginning next year."