Agenda - 09-13-2005-3 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-12- Revenue The Revenue Department began a project approximately five years ago in which the department has removed the majority of records required to hold onto a scanning operation. This has allowed for the removal of approximately 15 filing cabinets from the area, freeing up desperately needed space. In addition, the scanned documents are a much easier and timely access for staff. This in turn allows for stronger customer service as staff can locate documents while on the telephone with an individual without requiring any hold time. However, establishing this scanning system is not without its cost. Scanning the number of documents the department is required to keep by law and those documents that are pertinent to being able to "see the whole story" is a time consuming process. The temporary funds which are included in the Revenue Budget allows for the hiring of an individual at living wage to work approximately 20 hours per week, no more than six months out of the year to allow the department to keep this scanning operation current. During the months of January through June the Revenue Department staff are better allocated to collecting those funds in arrears to Orange County (accounting for approximately 3.6 million dollars in 2004 -05). The reason for increase in temporary wages was to cover the increase in living wage. Sheriff's Department In the Sheriffs department the continued use of temporary employees is most important in that these positions have allowed the department to meet the demands being placed on it daily without having to ask for full -time positions. This has been evident for in the past four years the Sheriffs department has not requested any deputy positions. Temporaries have allowed the Sheriffs department to serve the citizens while meeting the increasing demands by allowing the County to save in salary and benefit costs for full -time positions. The continued use of temporary employees is a vital and most important issue with the Sheriffs department. In the present situation, temporaries satisfy a dual role in acting as courtroom security and prisoner transport personnel, both of which are a daily occurrence. All persons in these positions are retired sworn and certified law enforcement officers from Orange County or other agencies at the state and local level. All of these persons have benefit packages, health and retirement either with Orange County or other agencies. In light of recent tragedies that have occurred in various courtrooms, our judges are daily requesting and demanding increased law enforcement presence in every court in Orange County. The temporaries serve a critical need allowing other officers to be assigned duties of responding to calls for service, protecting and patrolling the county as a whole. One of the huge benefits these people provide is their availability whenever the need arises. Availing