Staffing shortfalls in Miami County motor vehicle office cited as driver of deficit

Miami County Treasurer Trisha Lee told commissioners the motor vehicle office is budgeted for nine positions but currently has five staff working in the unit, with one employee on leave, leaving the office short‑staffed.

"I should have 7 motor vehicle clerks... Right now, yeah. And I have 1 on leave currently," Lee said while describing current staffing and supervisor roles. Staff and commissioners noted that lower staffing levels and variable transaction volumes raise the per‑transaction cost and widen the department's deficit.

A staff member said the department had roughly $40,000 in non‑salary annual items and estimated operation expenses near $769,000; over recent years the office has run a cumulative shortfall that staff said is roughly $56,000 over the past three years. Commissioners discussed using either higher user fees or transfers from the county general fund to address the shortfall and agreed to have staff model options in the draft resolutions.