Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land will be redesigning branch office signs in an effort to save money and raise online awareness with her new campaign, "Save Time, Renew Online!"
The new design will not force a complete replacement of existing signs. Only signs beyond repair will be replaced entirely. Old signs with former Secretary of State Candice Miller's name will be changed to feature the Michigan Department of State's Web site.
Land spokeswoman Kelly Chesney said alterations to the 237 signs statewide will cost about $60,000, adding the Web site promotion on the branch signs is a cost-effective way to cope with a reduced budget in the 2004 fiscal year.
"This will allow us to continue quality services with fewer dollars," she said.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm spokeswoman Elizabeth Boyd said Land's plan comes at time when state government needs to be as cost efficient as possible.
"The governor's pleased whenever there's an attempt to save taxpayers' dollars," she said. "So the secretary of state's making the right decision."
Miller, R-Harrison Township, is now a U.S. representative. Spokeswoman Melissa Mazzella said Miller couldn't comment on the redesign.
"We're focused on our congressional duties," she said.
When Miller was elected in 1994, she replaced former Secretary of State Richard Austin's name with her own. Those changes cost $236,000.
The new signs will emphasize Land's campaign goal to improve customer service through online resources.
Chesney said most Michigan residents are unaware they can renew license plate registrations online.
"Most people do it at a branch office," she said. "It'd be much easier for them online. The Secretary of State's office is available to them 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
Increased use of the Web site will free up branch office employees to take care of problems that can't be solved online, such as driver's license renewals, Chesney said.
To get a better grasp of the challenges branch office employees face, Land is visiting offices across the state. She has already visited more than 60.
"We've also heard a lot from the customers," Chesney said. "They'd like to be able to use credit cards in the branch offices."
Chesney said Land is trying to accommodate customers' needs and hopefully branch offices will soon accept credit cards.
To find out more about the Department of State online, visit www.michigan.gov/sos
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
