Niyamath Parveez

Even though it has been a year when things have been across the board, for some organizations, it has been exceptionally tough. One such body that has not had its trouble to seek is the Arizona Department of Revenue. As you can imagine, anybody working in revenue is going to find things slightly tricky but the past year has featured some extremely trying moments. Being forced to reduce the number of agency staff employed by around a third with the threat of even more labor and budget costs to come in the year ahead, it is not a pleasure able place to work.

When staff members are placed under this sort of strain and stress, it can be extremely difficult for them and they can find it very difficult to go about their daily business. Trying to distribute the revenues, reply to all questions placed to them and ensure that conduct reports are maintained are all very trying tasks. When the body is downsizing their staff levels, it becomes even trickier.

However, it has not gone unnoticed that outsourcing can be a solution to organizations in difficult times. When downsizing occurs but there is a requirement to not let the quality or level of work diminish, outsourcing certain tasks can make it so much easier to keep things going on an even keel. This is why the Arizona Department of Revenue is considering outsourcing its tax collections. No one particularly likes paying taxes but they are necessary for the continuation of everyday life and for the upkeep of so many services that people take for granted.

The statistics for tax collection have been well considered and it is deemed to be a positive move for the Arizona Department of Revenue. Being able to put this amount of foreplanning into any outsourcing decision is likely to reap its rewards. This is shown in the positive attitude offered by management.

"Our data has shown, over the last 15 to 20 years, that when we have become a partner and collect the tax for (our clients), anywhere from 3 to 7 percent has been the increase in collections,"

was the good news offered by Rob Heimbuch.

Heimbuch is the western regional account manager for RDS, which obviously means his opinion carries a lot of weight. Not every manager in an organization is likely to have their finger on the pulse or be able to say what is really going but at Regional level, there should be a greater understanding of what is required.

Heimburch went onto further remark;

"Operationally, it's what we do from A to Z, and although the Department of Revenue does it as well, the DOR does lots of other things. Right now the Department of Revenue, due to staffing shortages, is not able to get information back to towns and cities in what I would call a timely manner."

There is no guarantee that this will be the only change required but there is every chance that this move will help to put the Arizona Department of Revenue back in the driving seat.