Deal struck to keep LR tax-collection site open

In a reversal of plans, the southwest Little Rock tax-collection site will stay open next year, Pulaski County Treasurer Debra Buckner said Wednesday.

The treasurer's office had announced earlier this year that the site -- along with the Jacksonville office -- would close Jan. 1. But the office has changed course on both sites.

Jacksonville officials, along with those from the state and treasurer's office, announced in September that the tax-collection site in that city would stay open as a result of an $80,000 renovation to better accommodate technology and the city's military veterans.

The southwest Little Rock site will remain open as well, after an agreement between county and state officials on a plan to remodel the area of the Arkansas State Police building in which it's located. The collection site at 8001 Geyer Springs Road is one of six in Pulaski County and one of three that operate from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The renovation will open the office up, connecting the offices of the tax collector, assessor and state revenue offices into one room, Buckner said.

"We're just going to knock down a wall and bring them in with us," said Marla McHughes, state revenue office administrator.

The office's openness will be easier for residents and make it more secure for handling financial transactions, officials said.

In the April 1 announcement of the tax sites' closure, Buckner wrote, "Safety of our Deputy Treasurers continues to be of the highest priority. Our other four offices are larger, have more people, and more visibly open space."

On Wednesday, Buckner said, "This is going to provide an open, more visible, modernized situation for customers to expedite their time in the office."

People often use the sites to pay taxes, assess their vehicles and renew their car tags in a single visit.

The cost to Pulaski County will likely be about $3,000 -- about $500 each for new work stations for the assessor and treasurer, plus the rest of the remodeling cost, she said.

Buckner said she will not have to revise her budget to pay for the remodeling.

The rest of the work will be funded by the state police, the state revenue offices and the county. It will start in November and be done before Christmas, Buckner said.

The total cost of the remodel will probably be less than $8,000, McHughes said. Her office is waiting on a final estimate from the state police, which leases out the space.

District 8 Justice of the Peace Curtis Keith, D-Mabelvale, said he got several calls from constituents asking to keep the site open. His district abuts the office.

"I'm happy we were able to come to an agreement to stay out in southwest Little Rock," he said.

Buckner said she was pleased that the other agencies were willing to work with the county to keep the site open.

"We never wanted to leave in the first place," she said.

Metro on 10/23/2014

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