BENTONVILLE -- County and state officials have decided to reunite in the state Revenue Office.
The move comes after going in different directions for the past 16 months, and hearing complaints from residents waiting to get their car tags.
At A Glance
Vehicle Assessment
Before renewing a vehicle’s license, owners are required to assess the vehicle and pay all personal property taxes owed. Owners are also required to maintain liability insurance on the vehicle. These requirements are checked using a computer.
Source: State of Arkansas
"This is going to be very important to the citizens, getting us all under one roof," Marla McHughes, an administrator with the Revenue Office, said of the agreement.
The county Assessor and Collector will shift staff into the Revenue Office, 2401 S.W. D St.
Collector Gloria Peterson said her office plans to add an employee because of the move, and will have four employees in Rogers and three more in the new branch in Bentonville. The D Street location will help alleviate long lines and parking problems around the County Administration Building, 215 E. Central Ave., where the Assessor and Collector main offices are, Peterson said.
Revenue Office officials said the work to prepare the space could begin almost immediately and be done in a couple of months, Peterson said.
"I'm hoping we can get it done by the first of September," Peterson said "September and October are so busy for us with tax time. We'd like to have this done."
Both county and state offices left their former location on 28th Street last year -- citing maintenance issues -- but couldn't agree on sharing a new office. After the Revenue Office announced it was moving in February 2013 the county began to look at options, said Bear Chaney, assessor.
The Revenue Office move began a process that ended with the county buying 1428 W. Walnut St. in Rogers and consolidating the Rogers and Bentonville branch operations, said County Judge Bob Clinard. The Revenue Office moved its Rogers operation from the Poplar Street site it shared with the county to the new building.
"When they decided to move out of the 28th Street office we knew we were going to have an issue," Clinard said. "People want to be able to get all of their business done at one place when they go to get their car tags. They want to be able to assess, pay their taxes and get their tags.
"I'm sure they got as many complaints as we did. I think it's a good deal and I'm glad they altered their thinking. I've said all along we should try to do everything we can to be in the same facility."
The Revenue Office will charge the county $1 a year through 2018 for the space in its Bentonville office.
The move in Bentonville should also benefit the Rogers office, which has been crowded since it opened in March, Clinard said.
"It's bound to take a little stress, a little traffic off that location," he said.
NW News on 07/06/2014