State Spotlight: Montgomery County, Ohio Carolyn Rice, Treasurer

Treasurer’s Role County’s property tax collector – 250,000 parcels – 2 nd highest property tax rate in OH – 12.5% unemployment – 25,000+ foreclosures since 2005 County’s banker County’s investment manager

Challenges ( ) Resources & Culture Change – Turnover in key personnel – Successive budget reductions – Fewer staff, more work – “Professionalize” activities Economic – Exit of auto manufacturing jobs & NCR – Predatory lending, foreclosures, property value losses – Great Recession

How We’ve Responded Staffing-communicate, communicate, communicate – Redefine job expectations & foster “we’re all in this together attitude” – Cross-training, orientation, “tune ups” – Supervisor Sessions, Leadership Team training – Deal with conflict, foster team spirit Delinquency – Offer more DQ contract payment options – DQ + prepay, robo calls, 4 th collection & niche outreach – Community outreach-HelpLink 2-1-1, CAP, HelpingHands – Bankruptcy focus

Things to Celebrate! Back Office Conversion– each collection runs smoother and more efficiently Return Mail Project– ($3.3 m) little things add up Fourth Collection , 570, 1649, $1.6m Tax Lien Sales– motivates and work even when you don’t have a sale Outreach- field trips, Treasurer’s Update, reports to local govt leaders builds relationships & credibility Land banking legislation- passed 3/24/10 and signed by Gov Strickland 4/7/10

Thank You!!! Please contact me in the future if you have questions, concerns, or even ideas. Good Luck!!!! Carolyn Rice Montgomery County Treasurer 451 W. Third Street Dayton, OH (direct)