Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released audits of ten license offices across the state. Most of the offices received an overall performance rating of good, with one office receiving an excellent rating, the highest available.
"License offices throughout the state provide services directly to Missourians who are looking to renew license plates, receive their driver's licenses and process vehicle titles and registrations," Auditor Galloway said. "By auditing these offices, we are able to recommend management practices that will help safeguard taxpayer dollars. When concerns are identified, recommendations are provided to help make improvements to better serve the community."
The most common finding among the license offices included concerns related to voiding transactions. When a transaction has to be voided after it is entered in the system but before payment is made, a supervisor is expected to review the canceled transaction. In some instances, the customer must sign a document acknowledging the transaction was canceled. In more than half of the offices surveyed, all necessary steps were not always being taken.
Other common findings were related to accurately recording methods of payment and ensuring staff inquire of each customer whether they are interested in making a donation. State law allows license offices to collect donations for the World War I Memorial Trust fund, and for the organ donor and blindness awareness programs, but not all offices regularly shared this information with customers.
A summary of findings is included below, along with total donations collected by each office.
Gainesville License Office (Ozark County) Overall rating: Good
Total fee collections: $59,895 Charitable donations raised: $614
Concerns: Inventory records See the full report
Fayette License Office (Howard County) Overall rating: Good
Total fee collections: $36,711 Charitable donations raised: $96
Concerns: Voided transactions, issuing receipts See the full report
Ellington License Office (Reynolds County) Overall rating: Good
Total fee collections: $30,055 Charitable donations raised: $53
Concerns: Voided transactions See the full report
Monett License Office (Barry County) Overall rating: Good
Total fee collections: $139,313 Charitable donations raised: $1,391
Concerns: Voided transactions See the full report
Hermann License Office (Gasconade County) Overall rating: Good
Total fee collections: $60,011 Charitable donations raised: $3
Concerns: Voided transactions, donation inquiries See the full report
Brookfield License Office (Linn County) Overall rating: Excellent
Total fee collections: $74,673 Charitable donations raised: $833
Concerns: None See the full report
Hannibal License Office (Marion County) Overall rating: Good
Total fee collections: $112,625 Charitable donations raised: $7
Concerns: Voided transactions, donation inquiries See the full report
Glenstone License Office (Greene County) Overall rating: Good
Total fee collections: $587,237 Charitable donations raised: $8,791
Concerns: Recording payment methods See the full report
Oakville License Office (St. Louis County) Overall rating: Good
Total fee collections: $314,897 Charitable donations raised: $919
Concerns: Voided transactions, recording payment methods See the full report
Wentzville License Office (St. Charles County) Overall rating: Good
Total fee collections: $497,039 Charitable donations raised: $7,151
Concerns: Voided transactions, recording payment methods See the full report
The Missouri Department of Revenue is responsible for selecting agents to operate the 177 contract license offices in the state. These offices process transactions related to driver licenses, vehicle titles and license plates. In 2009, state law was amended to allow the Missouri State Auditor's Office to audit contract license offices.
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