This press release was published at the request of the Alachua County Tax Collector.
Alachua County Tax Collector John Power is pleased to announce that his office is the proud recipient of the 2022 Governor’s Sterling Award for performance excellence in management and operations.
The Sterling Award is presented annually to organizations and businesses that meet or exceed the Sterling/Baldrige National Criteria for Performance Excellence – a framework for achieving and sustaining organizational performance excellence and efficiency. The Tax Collector’s office is the only organization in the state of Florida receiving the prestigious award this year.
The award follows a rigorous assessment process based on criteria from seven categories: leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; measurement analysis, and knowledge management; workforce focus; operations; and results. The Sterling Council’s panel of judges consists of six judges that are nationally and internationally recognized experts on organizational performance excellence in the Sterling/Baldridge Management System.
In support of its vision, “To be nationally recognized as a leader in organizational excellence and exemplary service,” the organization has focused on maintaining a culture of innovation, continual process improvement, and respect. Accordingly, all work at the Tax Collector’s Office is performed in conjunction with an internally developed automated information management system called “JARVIS.” This innovative data analytics tool is custom designed and utilized to ensure all management and operational decisions are data-driven and fact-based.
Throughout the last four years, the Tax Collector’s office boasts high-performance ratings exceeding their comparative peer groups. Utilizing an innovative appointment system, over 80% of customers received service within 15 minutes, while 50% of those were within five minutes. Customer satisfaction was rated at an average of 98%, transaction accuracy achieved an average of 99.8%, and workforce satisfaction attained an average of 90%. Consistently, costs have remained below budget, and external audits are clean and error-free.
“We are an organization focused on continual improvement with the goal of mastering all aspects of organizational efficiency. This award shows the citizens of Alachua County that our office is committed to excellence and is achieving great success,” said Power. “I respect and admire every member of our team and thank them for their dedication and hard work. Receiving this award from the Sterling Council is an honor for our team and the entire community.”
The Alachua County Tax Collector’s office acts as an agent for multiple local and state agencies, providing a wide range of services to the public. Total collections are approximately $390 million annually in taxes and fees, which are distributed among 25 taxing authorities. The Tax Collector also provides services for Motor Vehicle titles and registrations, Driver Licenses (including road tests), Concealed Weapons licenses, and Birth Certificates.