Information received in a press release from the State of Missouri’ Department of Revenue  indicates that the Branson License and Motor Vehicle office operated under an appointed interim arrangement since 2008 is now being operated under a “management contracts awarded through a reformed bidding process that was implemented by Gov. Jay Nixon.”Gov. Nixon said. “Under the new system, anyone is allowed to bid to run an office, and the winning bid is awarded to those that emphasize customer service, financial stability and a good office location.”

The management contract for the Branson License Office was awarded to Barbara Ghan of Republic, dba BT Express, who has been the interim operator of the office since 2008 and has also received the contract for the Branson West License Office. There were two bids for the Branson Office which will remain at its current location in Cedar Ridge Plaza at 1447-C State Highway 248.

As part of the bidding process bidders had the option of “returning a portion of the office’s revenues to the state.” Ghan’s bid contained an offer to return 1.5 percent or about $2,889.00 to the state. It is estimated that the 146 contracts awarded state wide will return $776,371 to the state of Missouri during their first contract year.

Under the reformed bidding process, of “the 147 offices awarded so far, 83 have gone to incumbents or groups associated with incumbent agents.  Sixty-four of the offices have been awarded to new agents.  The Director of the Missouri Department of Revenue said the goal of the reformed system is to spark innovation by opening up the process to more people.

The local License Office provides services that include the issuance and renewal of driver licenses, issuance of titles for motor vehicles, and the issuance and renewal of registration for motor vehicles, boats and outboard motors. Although operated by independent contractors their operations are overseen by the Missouri Department of Revenue.