County Government Operating a
DMV Tag Agency
(NC License Plate Agency)
Kelvin R. Byrd
Watauga County
History
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Boone LPA closed in fall of 2005
No LPA office in the county
Continued to be vacant in Spring 2006
“Watauga County” began pursuing information about
running a LPA
• Made application to be a LPA contractor in May/June
2006
• Approval of Contract August 2006
– Staff Hiring (Director + 2 staff)
– Education 3 week course at DMV Headquarters
• Open for Business on November 20, 2006
Administration
• Structure setup for the LPA is under
Watauga County Tax Administrator
• Separate Budget for LPA
• Issue Passports with Photos
• Do not sell other tag items
Staffing
• NC LPA office staffed with 5 people
– Currently staffed with a Director and 2 other
LPA clerks
– Tax Admin. Motor vehicle clerk for tax billing
• Tax Admin. Clerk has also taken 3 week course
and functions as overflow help in the LPA
operations
– Passport/Renewal clerk (RIF as of 04/22/10)
Budget
• Revenue = $120,000
– DMV Transactions, Notary Fees, Passports
• Expenditures = $170,000
– Salary+Benefits, Standard office expenses
Provide Quality Customer Service to the Citizens and
Auto Dealers
Break-Even would be a positive
Facilities
• Approx. 2000 sq. ft.
• Located across the street from the Tax
Admin. Dept. (walking distance)
• Designated LPA parking
• Hours of Operations 8:00am-4:30pm
• Approved Signage
• NC License Plate Agency
• 835 W King St
SOP
Standard Operating Procedures
• These were being rewritten when we opened in
2006
• February 2009 is newest version
• All new contracts adhere to new standards in the
sop
Equipment Lease Agreement
• 2006 Contract did not have a lease agreement
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for equipment.
Contract expired in 2008 and became a month
to month until a new contract was approved in
2009.
New Contract was signed in October 2009 for 3
yrs converting to annual for 2 additional terms.
All new contracts have equipment lease
agreements added (Approx. $70 month per
workstation)
Operations
• Provide Service to Citizens
– Process Title Applications
– Issue Tag Renewals
– Notarization
• Daily Deposit/Closeout
• Different Deposits (DMV-County)
• Watauga accepts only Cash for Notary Fees
– Can Not combine with payment for Title Work for DMV
Payments
• Notary is cash only
• DMV titles and renewals can be a check
• No credit or debit cards
• Passports can be check or money order
– Our transaction portion is cash
• Audits of office within 45 day period
• Payment Schedule
• Monthly EFT Transfer to County
• Transaction Payment Accountability
• Monthly Report
• Error Rates
• Adjustments
Other Work
• Most issues are called into the “Help Desk”
• Inspections and Emissions
• Insurance
• Drivers License
Moto Tax Preparation
• Positioned for new motor vehicle
legislation. Not intentional.
• Making efforts to bring LPA dept. into a
county owned building. Currently a
private lease agreement.
Contact Information
Kelvin R. Byrd
Watauga County Tax Administrator
842 W King St.
Suite 21 Courthouse
Boone NC 28607
828-265-8040
County operated LPAs
Municipal operated LPA’s
Chamber of Commerce LPA’s
Counties with No LPA
Application – MVR-93AA
http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/hot_topics/ApplicationForm.html
Policy and Procedures
• Physical Facility
• Parking Area
• Hours of operation
• Conjunction with other businesses
• Advertising
• Residency Requirement
• No silent partners
• Charges for replacement of inventory/
Rates for Services Rendered
• Standard Transactions $1.43
• HUT Transactions $1.27
• Title Transactions $1.00
• Notary Fee Schedule
– 1 signature $5
– 2 signatures $6
– 3 signatures $7