Governor-elect Jay Nixon says he will end the patronage system used to appoint who runs the state’s motor vehicle and driver’s license fee offices. He also has announced that he will urge those offices to shift more services to the Internet.
Missouri’s fee offices have long been a prize awarded to those politically connected. Nixon insists his administration will bid them out without regard to political affiliation or campaign contributions. He says that within 24 hours of his inauguration the Department of Revenue will solicit bids. Successful bidders will have to demonstrate efficiency, expertise, flexibility and a willingness to remit a percentage of gross income back to the state.
Nixon also wants modernization. Fee offices will be urged to put as much of their services on the Web as possible so Missourians can renew car or driver’s licenses from their home computers. Arizona and Virginia are sited as states that have put many transactions online.
The Revenue Department will be expected to award about six contracts a week. All fee offices will undergo a transition process.