NELDA WELLS SPEARS TO RECEIVE TWO LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Texas Association of Counties Praises Her For Technological Innovations, Common-Sense Customer Service
(AUSTIN) — Travis County Tax Collector Nelda Wells Spears was scheduled today to receive two best practices awards from the Texas Association of Counties for using technological innovations and common sense to provide high-quality, low-cost customer service to local taxpayers.
“These awards recognize our dedication to providing the kind of respectful, effective service taxpayers demand — and deserve,” Ms. Spears said. “These awards are proof that our office doesn’t run itself but depends on hard work and a commitment to public service.”
Ms. Spears and Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe were slated to accept the awards Thursday evening during the Texas Association of Counties 2007 Annual Conference being held in Austin.
The first award, for what the Association termed “connecting values and performance,” recognized everyday efforts in the tax office call center, where Ms. Spears’ 14 staff members answer a daily average of more than 1,200 inquiries via phone, email, fax, and text message. The staff also supports the work of the property tax collection division, which covers 95 jurisdictions.
The second award, for innovative technology, recognized the tax office for making sure its website is accessible to taxpayers with vision problems. Online visitors to www.traviscountytax.org can set preferences to help them view the information in five different settings, including one that is accessible to readers used by the blind or visually impaired.
Today’s recognition followed on the heels of the Computerworld Honors Laureate Award in June, an international award for using technology to better society. Thursday’s awards are presented by the Texas Association of Counties Leadership Foundation.
The Travis County Tax Office manages more than 130 employees who process 1.3 million tax and fee payments each year, collect more than $2 billion in local taxes and fees, and actively register and protect the data of more than half-a-million voters. Certified by the State Board of Tax Professional Examiners, Ms. Spears’ has won praise for the best tax collection rate in Texas — 99 percent — and for the highest voter registration rate of any urban county during the last presidential election — more than 94 percent.
