Postage cost City of Barrie nearly $474,000 last year

thebarrieexaminer.com
March 21, 2015
By Bob Bruton

Postage cost the city nearly $474,000 last year.

Yes, postage.

Which is why Barrie staff continue to look at ways to stem the rising cost of stamps. But the numbers are staggering.

In 2014, the city posted 323,171 pieces of mail, costing $252,095.

Another $189,373 was spend on the delivery of water bills and there was a $32,500 cost to distribute municipal election voter notification information.

About 92% of the city's mail is water bill reminders, tax bills, bylaw, court and planning correspondence, along with other finance department information. And tax bill, planning and court-related notices must be provided by mail.

Staff say 98% of the city's correspondence is sent by regular mail. Due to volume, the city uses a postage meter at 77 cents per piece - getting a break on $1 single stamps and 85 cents apiece in a book of 10.

The city has already taken measures to cut postage costs, such as sending trial notices electronically to agents and lawyers, along with boat slip renewal notices.

Staff are looking at new water and tax billing software that will require fewer bills to be mailed, using phone calls for billing-reminder calls, electronic notification for permit and licence renewals, etc.

E-billing, local media, social media and websites are also being used.

But the demand for communication mail-outs to residents has increased, staff say, with the greater focus on involved communities. These include road construction newsletters, garbage collection change notices, recreation programs and ward meeting notices.