Don’t go to Searstown to renew your driver’s license after Friday, Aug, 7.
Monroe County Tax Collector Sam Steele announced on Aug. 3 that efforts to consolidate Key West services into one location at the main office in the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Ave., are nearing completion.
The Key West driver license office at Searstown will remain open through Friday, Aug. 7. Services are expected to resume at the Truman Avenue office at noon on Thursday, Aug. 13, once state officials install new driver license equipment and complete the transition.
The consolidation will bring Key West services together at the main office, 1200 Truman Ave.
“This project is about better service and responsible use of public resources,” Steele said. “By consolidating our Key West operations into one location, we can make services more convenient for the public, improve efficiency, reduce wait times and eliminate approximately $136,000 in annual recurring costs. We appreciate the public’s patience during construction and look forward to welcoming customers to the renovated main office.”
The Key West main office will feature an expanded lobby counter with additional customer service and supervisor workstations, increasing the office’s ability to serve the public. The same driver license services currently provided at Searstown will be available at the main office, along with the other services offered by the Monroe County Tax Collector’s Office.
The state has approved a new driving test route designed to minimize effects on nearby residential streets while still meeting Florida requirements.
Consolidating the two Key West locations will allow employees to be positioned based on customer demand rather than dividing limited personnel between separate offices.
A review by the tax collector found that customers at the Searstown location generally experienced longer waits than those at the main office. While wait times varied depending on customer volume and staffing, peak waits at Searstown sometimes reached as high as two hours, which Steele said was not an acceptable level of service for Monroe County residents.
Tax collector employees are being cross-trained on all services, allowing supervisors to shift staff in real time to the transactions and service areas experiencing the greatest demand.
Closing the leased Searstown office will eliminate approximately $136,000 per year in expenses associated with rent, maintaining a separate facility, utilities, communications and duplicating operations at two locations.
The Monroe County Tax Collector’s Office will share reminders and updates through its website and social media channels. Follow the Monroe County Tax Collector’s Office on Facebook or check monroetaxcollector.com for additional updates.
