Erie County clerk encourages motorists to renew locally

SPRINGVILLE — The following guest column was submitted by Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs.

Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs announced that the “Just Mail It/Just Drop It” campaign has been redesigned to make it easier to renew vehicle registrations.

The signature green envelopes used to keep taxpayer’s money in Erie County are now postage-paid. Jacobs said, “Our goal was two-fold: To increase the number of vehicle owners who renew locally and to make vehicle registration renewals more convenient for the motorists. People can simply drop the completed renewal form in any mailbox, using the postage-paid green envelope.”

The clerk’s office is asking motorists to submit their paperwork locally when renewing their auto registrations, in order to keep money in Erie County. “Many of our customers are surprised to hear that Erie County receives none of the fees if they use the pink envelope that comes with their vehicle registration renewal from Albany, or if they renew online at the NYS DMV website,” Jacobs said.

Taxpayers should know that, by not mailing the renewals directly to the county clerk’s office, taxpayers lose 12.7 percent per renewal, totaling more than $1.5 million annually. Jacobs said he is confident that the redesigning of the green envelope to be postage-paid will increase revenues generated by the clerk’s office. “This revenue is critical to support such services as our auto bureau locations and its mobile units and it also goes into the county’s general fund to pay for road/bridge repair, social and senior services, as well as other vital programs important to this community,” he said.

“As county clerk, I am continually striving to find new ways to look out for our residents, and this is one way we can help ourselves,” Jacobs added. “Under this improved initiative, residents will save postage, while helping to bring much-needed money into the county.”

Jacobs’ office offers a number of options for motorists to obtain the postage-paid green envelopes. Residents can find them at any of the Erie County auto bureau locations or mobile sites, at the clerk’s office in Old County Hall or at their village, city or town clerk’s offices. Citizens may also visit the Erie County Clerk’s website, www.erie.gov/clerk, and click the “just mail it” tab to request an envelope.

“Our plan is to have the postage-paid green envelopes available at various other outlets, throughout the county,” Jacobs said. Companies or auto-related businesses, such as auto dealers, service stations and oil-change merchants, who would like to help spread the message and join in the initiative, may contact the clerk’s office at 858-7754 or email ErieCountyClerkOffice@erie.gov.