Driver's license bureau a budget battle

POST FALLS — County officials appear bent on a balancing act between two Kootenai County driver's license bureaus.

The decision to re-open a Kootenai County driver's license bureau in Post Falls after 20 years is an attempt to relieve those notorious long wait lines in downtown Coeur d'Alene.

With the Post Falls bureau expected to open in mid-August in the former DMV space on Railroad Avenue, county leaders are wrestling with questions on staffing and hours of operation to have both it and the Coeur d'Alene office open.

The quagmire comes after two new positions were approved in this year's budget, although four new positions were requested.

The Sheriff's Office, which oversees the Driver's License Department, has been collaborating with county commissioners on the dilemma. A wait-and-see approach is prevailing.

"Once we're up and operating up to a couple months, we'll figure out how to best allocate resources," Commissioner Chris Fillios said.

"We may have to go with more limited hours (at one or both locations in lieu of having two offices open), but there's no way to forecast that until we're up and running. For all we know, we could be overwhelmed at both locations."

Undersheriff Dan Mattos agrees it's difficult to say how much business will shift to Post Falls, making staffing levels difficult to predict.

"We don't know if it will be 20 percent or 80 percent," Mattos told commissioners. "We need to see what's going to happen before making a guess. The goal at the end of your day and ours is better service."

The Sheriff's Office has requested the additional two employees in next year's budget, which is under review by the commissioners.

"The Sheriff's Office has not come to any solid conclusion on the number of staff allocated at each driver’s license location or the days and hours of operation," KCSO Capt. Andrew Deak said. "There will definitely be more meetings about this issue."

The county's DMV office in Post Falls, which is overseen by the Assessor's Office, was moved last month to the former Daughters of Rebekah and Independent Order of Odd Fellows building next door on Railroad Avenue. The move created space for a driver’s license bureau to open in Post Falls next month after a renovation.

Long lines have been a theme with both departments in recent years — to the point some residents travel to Wallace, Sandpoint or St. Maries to conduct their business. Deak said the driver's license office serves an average of 5,000 patrons a month.

He said the picture won't be clear until commissioners decide on the budget request. Current staffing would likely be split between the two offices if no further staffing is approved by the commissioners.

"The staffing models we've drafted have reduced hours and days due to the lack of any relief factor for (sick, vacation and training days and attrition)," Deak said. "Currently, things are about as clear as they are going to be until the budget is approved."

KCSO Maj. Neal Robertson said there are 10 employees to staff both locations.

"Right now, our intent is to try to run both offices with these 10 staff members," Robertson said.

Another budget request aimed at reducing wait lines and improving service at driver's license and DMV is an online scheduling system.

The system sends reminders when to be at the office.

"If this request is funded, it will allow customers to schedule dates and times that are best for them to conduct their business," Robertson said. "The system will allow customers to track their position in line and wait time using their smart phone or other mobile device."

As another possible way of reducing lines, Commissioner Marc Eberlein has advocated for an "express line" at the driver's license offices to serve those who are there simply to renew their license.

Commissioner Bob Bingham said he wonders if increasing the times between license renewals should be explored as another way of easing traffic at the office.

"Part of it could be a legislative fix," he said.