by Valerie Verkamp
Landmark reporter

The Platte County Annex Center located in Platte Woods will be closing March 9.

The announcement to close the Annex comes after the passing of the 2012 budget.

The Platte County Commission made significant cuts to this year's budget, including the funding of the Annex Center.

Sheila Palmer, Platte County Collector, said one employee who was hired three years ago, has already been released from her position at the Annex.

An original Annex Center was opened in September 1998 to serve citizens in southern Platte County. It changed office locations in 2007.

The Annex Center was a site for tax collections and provided citizens with tax receipts.

In an interview with The Landmark, Palmer said, “I am confident that the collector's office is ready for the transition. We will do our best to make paying taxes as painless as possible. When we opened the Annex center back in 1998, we didn't have on-line services like we do now. The internet has proven to be an reliable way to conduct business.”

The potential savings from the closing of the Annex Center this year is approximately $75,000 from expenses for rent, security, utilities, and other expenses, according to Kevin Robinson, county auditor.

In the years following 2012, it is estimated the county will save approximately $100,000 annually.

At this point, it is undetermined whether or not the two remaining employees will be retained by the collector or the assessor's office.