Photo cutline: Current probate license office in Millbrook, Lilly Pad Place, on 4864 Main Street.
Special to the Elmore Autauga News
It’s not uncommon to hear people complain about government and government services. On the local level, the Elmore County Commission is working diligently to squelch complaints by making life easier on its taxpayers. The latest Commission effort is to improve the functions of the Probate Office and Revenue Office. The bottom line – many duties of the Probate Office will be shifted to the Revenue Office.
“It’s going to be a gradual process. We will begin cross-training the employees of both offices in the fall. One of the goals is to avoid duplication of jobs,” Elmore County Revenue Commissioner Lee Macon said. “Once we clear the property tax collection cycle we will make even more progress. After the first of the year, we will see things fall into place, especially with the future of collection offices.”
One of the main goals of the changes is for taxpayers to have an ability to pay taxes and fees at any of three sites in the county, which are located in Wetumpka, Millbrook, and Tallassee. “We are trying to run things like a business when we can. We stress efficiency to save the taxpayers money and often that results in more convenience for the people that pay the bills,” Elmore County District Four Commissioner Bart Mercer said. Mercer represents a portion of the Millbrook area.
“One of the things this will do, for example, is help us keep track of anything related to a mobile home and a business license. Now we will be able to have all functions related to something specific, such as a mobile home, consolidated in one department,” Macon said.
The process to make the changes came over a year ago. The Elmore County Commission approved the proposal last November and the process for filing local legislation began. Senator Clyde Chambliss of Prattville sponsored Senate Bill 96 (SB 96) in the legislative session. The bill was approved by the Legislature and became law without Governor Ivey’s signature in March. The bill effectively honors a request of the state by Elmore County, as follows: The Judge of Probate of Elmore County, along with the other duties of the Probate Judge, administers, in Elmore County, the issuance and renewal of automobile tags and titles, manufactured homes titles and watercraft registration along with the issuance of State business licenses, driver licenses and Department of Conservation licenses and permits. Such duties also include the assessment of collection of manufactured home ad valorem taxes for manufactured homes not assessed through the office of the revenue commissioner.
It is requested that the administration, in Elmore County, of the issuance and renewal of automobile tags and titles, manufactured home titles in watercraft registration along with the issuance and renewal of State business licenses, driver licenses and Department of Conservation licenses and permits and the assessment and collection of ad valorem taxes for all manufactured homes to be transferred from the Elmore County Judge of Probate to the Elmore County Revenue Commissioner and that the Elmore County Judge of Probate is released from the administration of such duties.
One of the license related duties retained by the Probate Office will be that of issuing marriage licenses.
The changes, once fully implemented, will be of tremendous benefit to Millbrook especially. “We have a very heavy concentration of the county’s population in the Millbrook area and this will make things more efficient for the county and certainly much easier for the citizens in west Elmore County,” Macon said.
Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley said he was very happy with the development. “This is another great example of local governments working together and working to improve operations. For many years I have heard Millbrook folks talk about having to drive to Wetumpka to get something done. Now, they can just go to the office on Main Street right here in our town. I greatly appreciate the County doing what it has done to make our lives easier,” Kelley remarked.
