Polk County should see its own license plate/tag office in Columbus open in less than two weeks as renovations are on track for its Wednesday, Sept. 3 opening.
The new office will be a combined tag and tax office, which will also one day house the state’s driver’s license office.
The new office is located at 51 Walker St., Columbus with office hours of 8:30 a.m – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday.
The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday, Aug. 18 and heard from interim county manager Marche Pittman who gave an update on renovations.
Pittman said employees are making really good progress on the renovations and the Town of Columbus has given approval of the new sign to be located outside the building. Pittman said the cabinets are almost complete, along with lights and a camera system.
“Hopefully we’ll have the tax office in there in the next week,” Pittman said.
The tax office is currently located in the Womack building in Columbus and will relocate to the new building on Monday, Aug. 25.

There will be one full-time and one part-time employee dedicated to tag office duties.
Commissioner Keith Holbert, who spearheaded Polk having its own tag office, thanked employees, who have worked hard to meet the Sept. 3 deadline.
Commissioners approved a budget for the new tag office in July for $65,664 for the first year. First year expenses include renovations to the building. The majority of the renovations included painting and floors and building counters and partitions for the tag office.
It is expected the tag office will bring in $52,198 in revenues, with expenses including $42,408 for salaries and benefits, $2,200 for utilities, $2,250 for contract services and $18,806 for capital for the first year. Polk took $13,466 from the county’s contingency fund to make up the first year’s difference.
Polk County received state approval earlier this year to run its own license plate office.
Holbert has said he thinks Polk having its own tag office will be much easier on residents, especially the older population. Polk residents currently travel to other counties, mainly Henderson and Rutherford, for license plate needs.
Holbert has encouraged Polk residents to use the new tag office instead of ordering new registrations online, which will shift money from the state to Polk County.
Holbert said currently the state keeps 2.5 percent for online transactions, money that would come directly to Polk County if transactions are done in the local office.