CENTRAL FLORIDA — By the summer, all Department of Motor Vehicles offices in Florida will be merged with county tax collector’s offices, but Channel 9 found out there isn’t enough funding to handle all the new work.
In 2012, the state Legislature voted to transfer DMV services to the tax collector’s offices.
By summer, all DMV offices will be closed in Florida.
Osceola County Tax Collector Patsy Heffner said the DMV state office in Kissimmee handled 70,000 transactions last year.
About half were for residents from other counties. They now will only be able to offer services to Osceola County residents.
“We’re looking at following the footsteps of our neighboring counties and eliminating the ability to serve non-Osceola County residents, which is something none of us like to do,” said Heffner.
Heffner said they hired six people to help absorb the increase in workload, but the state isn’t providing any additional funding.
She encourages residents to make an appointment when possible to avoid waiting in line.
The Orange County Tax Collector’s Office said they also restricted services, starting this month, to residents living in the county.
It's also hired an additional 35 people to help with the extra workload.