"We're trying to improve cooperation between agencies because we're all serving the same customer," DMV executive director Marcia Adams said. "We don't want anyone to be sent back and forth between the two offices."

The switch in Spartanburg puts workers from a Spartanburg County DMV office in the county treasurer's office. Last week, folks from the treasurer's office were at the DMV.

Residents have to show the DMV a receipt for paid property taxes on a car before they can get a license tag.

County Treasurer Oren L. Brady III said the swap was first discussed more than a year ago. "Communication is the key," Brady said. "When you're seeing instead of talking, it makes it easier to understand."

Deputy Treasurer Glenda Wright said she got to see what DMV workers see when information is sent between the offices.

One technical issue turned up that treasurer employees will try to work out.

"We looked at our postmark dates and how they affect penalties for some taxpayers," Wright said. "We'll be able to alleviate some unnecessary penalties once we get our (computer) screens communicating properly."

Christie Scott in the treasurer's office spent Tuesday morning in front of a computer giving Tracey Miller, Catherine McFalls and Susan Herbert of the DMV a glimpse at some of the issues she deals with every day.

"If I understand what she's doing, it's easier for me to pick up the phone and try to work something out for the customer," Herbert said.

That, Adams said, is what the job switch is all about.

"We want to focus on the customer," she said. "They have to come to us, and we want to make it as pleasant as possible."

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