HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN-08-109 - Temporary Part-Time Employment of Retired Revenue Staff
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KITCHENER
Financial Services
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Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Mayor Carl Zehr and Members of Council
August 11, 2008
Dan Chapman, General Manager of Financial Services
Joyce Evans, Director of Revenue (2895)
ALL
July 22, 2008
FIN-08-109
RECOMMENDATION:
Temporary Part-Time Employment of Retired Revenue Staff
For Council direction.
BACKGROUND:
The Revenue Division of Financial Services is approved for three full-time collections officers.
Due to project demands, one of the collections officers has recently been seconded to the assist
with the Delta project four days a week until the Delta project is completed. The Revenue
Division proposes to employ a retired staff member on a temporary part-time basis to ensure
continuity of collections activity over this time period. Historically, requests to employ retired
staff have been brought forward for Council's information and approval.
REPORT:
Imoact of Comorate Proiects on Collections Staff
As discussed above, one of the three collections officers has recently been assigned to the
Delta Project to assist with system configuration and support a "go live" date at the end of this
year. In addition, the collections staff is currently in the process of implementing the collections
module in CIS which is using much of the resources of the supervisor and the collections
officers which also has an impact on effective collection of arrears.
Collections Activities
In 2004 Council directed that the targeted upper limit for write-offs be set at 0.3% of revenue.
The collections officers have followed this direction and worked very hard to maintain write-offs
within the limits set by Council.
The fall and winter billing periods have a greater impact on the collections area due to the fact
that the utilities bills include natural gas billing as well as water and sewer. During this time
period more collections calls and follow-ups are required to manage the utilities accounts in an
effective manner. Current project demands will have a significant impact on the ability of the
collections area to keep up with the workload and, if no action is taken, it is conceivable that
write-offs will increase as a result of non-timely collection efforts.
Prooosal
Barbara Martin, a retired customer service representative, has been approached and is willing
to provide collections assistance on a part-time basis for a limited time period (September 2008
- Delta Project finalization, which is projected to be March 2008). This would allow the use of a
fully trained CIS user who has experience with City of Kitchener customers. As a result training
would minimal and collections write-off levels should not be jeopardized.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
All wages have been budgeted for in the 2008 operating budget, as Delta Project secondments
are funded through the Delta Project capital account.
CONCLUSION:
The hiring of a retired customer service representative will allow the Revenue Division to utilize
a fully trained CIS user with strong background in working with City of Kitchener customers to
ensure continuity of collections activities. This measure is temporary since, once the Delta
project is implemented, the collections officer will return to her original position.
Joyce V. Evans, FCGA MPA
Director of Revenue, Financial Services Department
Dan Chapman, CA MPA
General Manager of Financial Services