The Collin County Commissioner's Court approved creation of two part-time title specialist positions for the Tax Office and an accompanying budget amendment to move contingency funds into the Tax Assessor-Collector's budget.

The action, taken during the court's regular meeting, responded to staffing pressures in the Tax Office created after implementation of the state's dealer filing system and changes in the FY 2025 budget. The court voted 3-0 to approve the item as posted.

Tax Office representative Mr. Grigg told the court that the office has experienced difficulty recruiting experienced title clerks and that several long-term registration clerks already perform title work. "I would like to take 1 of the positions that you approved and split it into 2 part time," Grigg said, arguing the split would save the county money on benefits while allowing the county to pay existing employees at a grade that matches the work they perform. He said one staffer has done title work for about 15 years.

Grigg said the two part-time positions would let the office train internal staff to perform title work and free up two registration clerk slots that could be filled externally. He said the part-time title clerks would be assigned in McKinney and used in part to help small vehicle dealers who are being delayed by the state's Web Dealer filing process: "These small dealers aren't sitting on a lot of money that they can afford to float waiting for the titles to be processed," Grigg said.

Budget Director Monica Arris confirmed the positions and funding had been carried in FY 2025 but placed in contingency: the court's contingency funds control activation of those positions. Arris said funds moved by the amendment are already encumbered for the positions and would simply be transferred from contingency into the Tax Assessor-Collector's operating budget so the office can hire. The county's budget staff estimated roughly $50,000 would cover the positions as requested, including salary and applicable benefits costs.

County staff member Mr. Kim clarified that the agenda item as posted covered only the creation of the two part-time positions; Grigg had also asked the court to activate an additional full-time position that had been placed in contingency. Kim said the additional activation would need a separate posting and public notice; Grigg agreed to repost that request separately.

After discussion the court voted 3-0 to approve the creation of the two part-time title specialist positions and the budget amendment to move contingency funds into the Tax Office. Commissioners and staff noted the change was intended to reduce backlog and speed title processing for small dealers while not increasing the county's full-time head count beyond positions already budgeted in contingency.

Court members asked staff to return with any separate activation request for the additional full-time position after the item is reposted and publicly noticed.