WALLA WALLA -- The Walla Walla office of the state Department of Licensing will be open another 18 months after elected officials urged the agency to reconsider closing it this year.
The Walla Walla location is one of 25 licensing offices statewide -- including Othello -- scheduled to close between March of this year and April 2010 to help remedy the state's nearly $6 billion shortfall.
"They really asked us to stop and take a look because of the distance problem and how the county is laid out," said Gigi Zenk, communications director for the agency.
After hearing from many constituents, Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, said he was pleased with the decision.
"We've been looking at a number of options, but I am very glad to hear that the scheduling date for closure has been pushed out 18 months. This will give us time to find a way for people to have continued access to these important DOL services," he said.
The next closest office for Walla Walla customers is more than
50 miles away in Kennewick.
One of the possible solutions to lessen the effect of closures is to install self-service kiosks at select locations, particularly in offices where people renew car tabs, Zenk said.
But finding locations for those kiosks appeared to be more challenging in Walla Walla, which is a big reason for postponing the closure, she said.
While some services, such as license renewals, are available online, the kiosks would be particularly helpful for people who don't use the Internet, she said.
Expanding the Kennewick office by adding hours and employees still is on the table, and Zenk said that decision will be part of the overall review process in making sure Walla Walla-area customers are well-served.
Closing the offices is expected to save more than $3 million in the 2009-11 biennium and $4 million during the following two-year budget cycle, said spokeswoman Selena Davis.
Those savings will come from fewer office leases, lower equipment costs and fewer per diem and traveling expenses for employees who travel to multiple locations, she said.
The Walla Walla office reported 23,465 transactions last year, with three full-time employees.
In Kennewick, the office handled 105,619 transactions with nine full-time workers, said the agency.
Employees at offices that are closing would be relocated, Davis said.
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