committee to elect dennis w reid - Efficiency and Cost Reduction Using what we have to produce greater results must become a priority in this county. Early in my college education I was taught the benefits of modern technology. When I started college in the fall of 1977 I was introduced to the college computer system at Michigan State University. Computers were new at the time and the system was so large it created its own climate due to the heat it emitted and took up most of an entire floor at the Administration Building. Yet at the time it was an amazing thing to watch operate. By the time I reached law school in 1981, and the same technology was reduced to the size of an average office desk, and the efficiency had increased 100 fold or more. When I went to work for a local law firm in 1984 desk top computers were becoming available to the general public at an affordable price. Other than the photocopier and telephone the firm basically operated as law offices had at the turn of the century. After some persuasion I was able to convince the owner of the firm to install basic Tandy computers and printers. The systems paid for themselves within 3 months. An example of the increased efficiency and eventual cost reduction played out within the first week of installing the systems. At the time I started my employment with the firm it would take two full time secretaries, three days per month, to prepare and mail out the billing statements for legal work performed for the firm. After installing the systems, it took one secretary ½ hour to do the same amount of work. For the time this was an amazing increase in office efficiency and cost reduction with little investment that paid for itself immediately. In 1989 when I opened my own law office I invested in the best equipment I could afford knowing it would eventually pay for itself and obtain the best efficiency possible for the time. I was right. In 2004 when my long time secretary decided to seek employment elsewhere, I immediately thought of hiring another secretary. At the time a locally trained legal secretary cost in excess of $27,000.00 per year in salary. Rather than invest money into another secretary that would likely leave for better pay upon being sufficiently trained, I reorganized the computer equipment I already owned and with another $500 invested in a few updates. Once again the results were dramatic. Office efficiency increased, costs went way down, and the work was being accomplished at a much faster pace and better quality than ever before. Now in 2008 for the price of a cell phone, I can type and store thousands of letters, file legal briefs and pleadings in some courts, conduct reliable legal rearch, take high resolution photographs, quickly text message, email or call my clients from any where in the world and all from a telephone that fits in the palm of my hand. Another example of increased office efficiency and cost control producing amazing results unheard of a few years ago. These real life experiences have taught me that office efficiency and decreased operating costs do not always come with a high price tag. Often greater efficiency can be obtained with just minor adjustments and tweaks to an established system. By performing tasks differently, adjusting existing staff members, and/or with minor capital investments in newer equipment or updates in older equipment, established office systems can produce greater results with lower annual operating costs. Avoid adding even one future staff member to a county office results in a subtantial savings to the taxpayers. In many respects, the current District Court and Magistrates Office are operated exactly as they were decades ago. Little has been done to improve efficiency and decrease operating costs over the years. My belief is not to be viewed as an attack upon the employees of either office, but I believe simple improvements can be made throughout the system to improve office efficiency and lower operating costs for the taxpayers. Placing individuals in positions of authority with new ideas and an agenda for improved efficiency and cost reduction must be a priority if we are to avoid the threat of reduced services and constant increases in our taxes.

ELECT

DENNIS W. REID

SANILAC COUNTY DISTRICT JUDGE

42 lexington street
sandusky, MI 48471
ph: 810-648-2311
fax: 810-648-2604
denreid@att.net

Efficiency and Cost Reduction

Using what we have to produce greater results must become a priority in this county.

Early in my college education I was taught the benefits of modern technology. When I started college in the fall of 1977 I was introduced to the college computer system at Michigan State University. Computers were new at the time and the system was so large it created its own climate due to the heat it emitted and took up most of an entire floor at the Administration Building. Yet at the time it was an amazing thing to watch operate.

By the time I reached law school in 1981, and the same technology was reduced to the size of an average office desk, and the efficiency had increased 100 fold or more.

When I went to work for a local law firm in 1984 desk top computers were becoming available to the general public at an affordable price. Other than the photocopier and telephone the firm basically operated as law offices had at the turn of the century. After some persuasion I was able to convince the owner of the firm to install basic Tandy computers and printers. The systems paid for themselves within 3 months. An example of the increased efficiency and eventual cost reduction played out within the first week of installing the systems. At the time I started my employment with the firm it would take two full time secretaries, three days per month, to prepare and mail out the billing statements for legal work performed for the firm. After installing the systems, it took one secretary ½ hour to do the same amount of work. For the time this was an amazing increase in office efficiency and cost reduction with little investment that paid for itself immediately.

In 1989 when I opened my own law office I invested in the best equipment I could afford knowing it would eventually pay for itself and obtain the best efficiency possible for the time. I was right.

In 2004 when my long time secretary decided to seek employment elsewhere, I immediately thought of hiring another secretary. At the time a locally trained legal secretary cost in excess of $27,000.00 per year in salary. Rather than invest money into another secretary that would likely leave for better pay upon being sufficiently trained, I reorganized the computer equipment I already owned and with another $500 invested in a few updates. Once again the results were dramatic. Office efficiency increased, costs went way down, and the work was being accomplished at a much faster pace and better quality than ever before.

Now in 2008 for the price of a cell phone, I can type and store thousands of letters, file legal briefs and pleadings in some courts, conduct reliable legal rearch, take high resolution photographs, quickly text message, email or call my clients from any where in the world and all from a telephone that fits in the palm of my hand. Another example of increased office efficiency and cost control producing amazing results unheard of a few years ago.

These real life experiences have taught me that office efficiency and decreased operating costs do not always come with a high price tag. Often greater efficiency can be obtained with just minor adjustments and tweaks to an established system. By performing tasks differently, adjusting existing staff members, and/or with minor capital investments in newer equipment or updates in older equipment, established office systems can produce greater results with lower annual operating costs. Avoid adding even one future staff member to a county office results in a subtantial savings to the taxpayers.

In many respects, the current District Court and Magistrates Office are operated exactly as they were decades ago. Little has been done to improve efficiency and decrease operating costs over the years. My belief is not to be viewed as an attack upon the employees of either office, but I believe simple improvements can be made throughout the system to improve office efficiency and lower operating costs for the taxpayers.

Placing individuals in positions of authority with new ideas and an agenda for improved efficiency and cost reduction must be a priority if we are to avoid the threat of reduced services and constant increases in our taxes.

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Dennis W. Reid

P.O. Box 127

Sandusky, Michigan 48471

42 lexington street
sandusky, MI 48471
ph: 810-648-2311
fax: 810-648-2604
denreid@att.net