Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: George Tablack
Department: Finance and Administrative Services Division: Records, Taxes, and Treasury
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE form amendment to the agreements between Broward County and the four private auto tag agency providers, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 2, to adjust certain customer fees; and authorize the County Administrator to approve modifications to the form that do not affect pricing or materially alter the terms and to execute such amendments on behalf of the County, subject to review and approval as to legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney.
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Why Action is Necessary
Section 20-251(a) of the Broward County Code of Ordinances requires that any adjustments to the schedule of the Private Auto Tag Agency service fees shall be approved by the Board.
What Action Accomplishes
Approves a form amendment to the private auto tag agency agreements to adjust certain fees and authorizes the County Administrator to approve nonmaterial changes and to execute the amendments.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE RECORDS, TAXES, AND TREASURY DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
Broward County is responsible for providing tag agency services and has an agreement in place with four providers (collectively “Private Tag Agencies”) to perform these services at seven locations throughout the county. One Private Tag Agency owner has requested an increase to some of the service fees it charges. The Private Tag Agency representative stated that the request to increase these fees is a result of additional expenses incurred in its current business environment and a general increase in operating costs.
County staff met with this Private Tag Agency owner and representatives to discuss the request. The following items were considered:
• The County has the option to periodically review the service fee rates charged by Private Tag Agencies and to adjust for inflation and other changes in operating conditions.
• March 31, 2020 (Item No. 28), the Board approved an increase to the fees that was previously requested by the Private Tag Agencies. At that time, the fee for “Fast Title” was increased from $20 to $25 and the fees for “Registration and Title” transactions were significantly increased in line with the corresponding increase in the Consumer Price Index over the period since the prior fee increase (approximately 2017).
As a result of the recent discussions, Records, Taxes, and Treasury staff and the Private Tag Agency owner and representatives recommend the following changes to customer fees:
• An increase in registration fees (for the issuance, transfer, replacement of license plate and/or decal and registration certificate) from $3.85 to $4.50;
• An increase in “Title Application for Original or Transfer Certificate of Title” fees (all kinds, including lien recordings, verifications, all necessary forms, notarizations, and sales tax collection or exemption) from $16.50 to $19.30; and
• An increase in “Print Electronic Title” fees (i.e., request for printing of a paper title from the Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters in Tallahassee and mailed to customer) from $6.75 to $7.90.
A historical summary of the Private Tag Agencies operations including contractual milestones is attached as Exhibit 1. To implement the fee increases, the Private Tag Agencies will be required to enter into a form amendment in substantially the form of Exhibit 2. This item would authorize the County Administrator to approve changes to the form amendment that do not affect pricing or materially modify the terms.
If approved, the adjustments to these fees will be effective on July 1, 2023.
Source of Additional Information
Thomas Kennedy, Director | Records, Taxes, and Treasury Division, (954) 357-5777
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
There is no fiscal impact to the County. These fees are paid by individuals utilizing private tag agency services.