Progressive Solutions News

Web Business License Renewal Project Completions

2009-12-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

Hawthorne, CA, Monterey, CA and National City are live with LicenseTrack Web Renewals and accepting internet payments for 2010 returns.

MailCentral processes 77,880 Tax Statements

2009-12-31T10:02:00.000-08:00

This past week, the City of Oakland via PSI's MailCentral service has processed over 77,880 tax statements. In addition to the tax statements, also included was one page of inserted instructions and a return envelope.

Returned mail may be quickly notated on the appropriate account for staff review to avoid unnecessary future mailings.

MailCentral ensures that USPS postal discount requirements are met so the cheapest possible rates are obtained. For more information see the link below:

http://ribbs.usps.gov/99_testing/documents/tech_guides/MUProcessGuide.pdf

For maximum efficiency, returns will be processed via lockbox for automated input into LicenseTrack!

Upon receipt of business tax payment and full compliance, most 2010 Business Licenses will be printed via MailCentral automation.

Gardena CA passes on costs via convenience fees

2009-12-30T10:07:00.000-08:00

CashierCentral now allows cities to accepts credit cards at no fee to the city by passing on fees to the consumer via council approved convenience fees.
Convenience fees are imposed for all credit cards tendered over the counter or via the internet (i.e. business license renewals).
PSI also offers the CashierCentral Application Programming Interface (API) which facilitates the imposition of convenience fees for all internet submitted credit card payments.

PSI User Conference the best yet.

2009-11-13T20:52:00.000-08:00

While the economy did retrict the ability of some city staffers to attend, those that attended have confirmed the conference showed how to maximize revenue with existing and recently released PSI features.
For the first year we held a simultaneous breakout session where smaller groups could ask focused questions relating to applications used by those in the respective session.
Bill Milny of Oakland presented a brief seminar on how to use raw data extracted from PSI systems to easily obtain answers to important questions.
Jim Plunkett updated our attendees on the latest requirements for acceptance of convenience fees.

Monterey almost live with LicenseTrack web renewals

2009-11-01T10:55:00.000-08:00

The City of Monterey will be offering businesses the ability to renew business licenses via the internet and is in final testing.
Businesses will also be able to review their status via the web as well.

PSI to sponsor and exhibit at 2010 NBBLO in Las Vegas

2009-11-05T11:03:00.000-08:00

As further demonstration of our commitment to the licensing industry, PSI has signed up to exhibit, lecture and sponsor the 2010 NBBLO conference in Las Vegas from July 14th to July 16th.
Our presentation will review opportunities to mine for data and utilize such data within licensing software.
** PSI currently works in partnership with the NBBLO to facilitate all conference activities.
For more information visit: www.nbblo.org

San Bernardino offers businesses internet renewals

2009-09-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

The City of San Bernardino now offers businesses the ability to renew their business licenses via the internet.
In addition, businesses may now review their status via the web as well.
San Bernardino recently added barcode and document scanning equipment to their arsonel to ensure maximum efficiency.

National City accepts Credit Cards over the counter

2009-09-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

National City now accepts credit cards at CashierCentral & LicenseTrack Workstations with deposit of funds to their Bank of America Account.
In addition, Businesses may also renew their licenses via the internet & review their license status.

CashierCentral facilitates reduced credit card fees

2009-09-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

PSI is pleased to announce native CashierCentral support for the Utility interchange rate.
Qualifying utility transactions may now benefit from a low flat rate instead of a percentage based fee. Savings may be as high as 66% of the prior percentage based transaction fees. Should your agency be eligible for any other interchange rate, just let us know! We will be pleased to configure CashierCentral so your organization may reap the further benefits to which you are entitled.
In this difficult economic climate, PSI is pleased to be part of the solution.

Also anticipated in the near future is native support for implementing convenience fees to defray credit card processing costs. Such fees may be assessed on over the counter, telephone and internet based transactions.

PSI applications now available for Windows 7

2009-08-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

Our customers regularly praise PSI software enhancements included with software maintenance. Opportunities for improved efficiency constantly arise and are incorporated into PSI's Quickserve Suite. Such improvements save time and money which benefit end users and management.

LicenseTrack to facilitate collection of 'Marijuana Tax'

2009-07-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Progressive Solutions’s LicenseTrack will become the first software system in U.S. history to assist in the proper and fair collection of a “Marijuana Tax”. This tax was voted in at the City of Oakland, CA on July 21st, 2009 with an 80% vote. This new tax to take effect starting January 1st 2010 and the flexible nature of LicenseTrack can easily handle this unprecedented change in Oakland’s tax ordinance.
Click here to view the Christian Science Monitor article

Gardena Live with Custom Ticket Solution

2009-06-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

Progressive Solutions has developed a flexible development API which allows for direct integration with our Payment Central (Cashier) software. This flexible library allows for PSI or city staff to rapidly develop applications using the PSI processing engine.

The City of Gardena contacted Progressive Solutions to develop a software application to allow city residents to purchase tickets online for their annual city jazz festival. The application was able to developed rapidly, revised, improved and deployed.

https://secure.ci.gardena.ca.us/TicketVendor/

California Shaking Away-NOT

2009-05-17T20:46:00.001-07:00

This evening at 8:39PM the southland was rocked by a series of brief quake the highest recorded at 5.0 centered near Inglewood.

Intial estimates are that little if any damage was reported.

All systems are go at PSI!

La Verne, CA Live with AlarmTrack

2009-05-03T18:39:00.000-07:00

The City of La Verne has successfully imported over 2,500 accounts from their excel based alarm permitting system. PSI's AlarmTrack™ offers efficiency and serviceability such as integration with their computer aided police dispatch system. AlarmTrack™ is likely to generate a substantial increase in billed and collected false alarm revenue.

Fresno, CA Live on PetTrack

2009-05-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

The City of Fresno has successfully migrated over 14,500 accounts from the outdated pet licensing system previously in use for over 15 years. PSI's latest PetTrack™ release has implemented the ability to enter multiple pending receipts while taking outstanding balances into account and is much for efficient than their prior system.

PSI welcomes La Verne, CA to the user group

2008-12-24T10:06:00.001-08:00

After a great deal of due diligence and months of painstaking research of available products, the City of La Verne deemed PSI's AlarmTrack™ to be the most efficient and viable option available.

Also in the running was Crywolf (who is strong in marketing). We would love to learn from the Crywolf marketing team how to obtain sole source agreements without prompting the client to consider other solutions.

When functionality, flexibility and top notch service are important, PSI is usually selected as the best option!

'All Hell Broke Loose' in Santa Barbara CA fire

2009-05-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

With a third of the residents of this beachfront community ordered out earlier, 23,000 more faced the same prospect as gusty winds pushed flames to the edge of the city limits after destroying dozens of foothill homes.
While our friends at the City have informed us that City Hall is not at risk, our thoughts go out to all those who have been and are being displaced!

Red Flag Rules Deferred for the Second Time

2009-05-01T15:49:00.000-07:00

The Federal Trade Commission has delayed "Red Flags Rules" requirements until Aug. 1 to give affected businesses more time to develop and implement identity theft prevention programs. The Rules were scheduled to take effect today.

CPSC clarifies position on Children's Product Safety Laws

2009-01-11T12:11:00.000-08:00

Under the new law, children’s products with more than 600 ppm total lead cannot lawfully be sold in the United States on or after February 10, 2009, even if they were manufactured before that date. The total lead limit drops to 300 ppm on August 14, 2009.

The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties. For the complete article please refer to the link below:
CPSC

Children's Products will be in shorter supply

2009-01-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

Regulators need to anticipate the consequences of their actions. And historical actions of the designated enforcement organization may suggest their willingness to adapt regulations to reality or respond to public comment.

It appears the unintended consequences of a new law set to take effect 2/10/2009 could force thousands of clothing retailers and thrift stores to cease operations and throw away truckloads of children’s clothing. The scope of the law has been expanded by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, who has yet to respond to requests for comment.

Even new children's clothes manufacturers may be forced out of business resulting in lower business tax revenue due to newly required and expensive lead testing requirements.

In addition, millions will suffer from increased child clothes and toy expenditures.

A video on the story is available via the link below:
http://www.yahoo.com/s/1012195

MailCentral processes 59,000 Tax Statements

2008-12-24T09:48:00.000-08:00

This week, the City of Oakland via PSI's MailCentral service has processed over 59,000 tax statements. In addition to the tax statements, also included with each statement was one or more pages of inserted instructions and a return envelope.

Accounts with returned mail will be marked quickly and easily by staff to ensure USPS postal discount requirements are met so the cheapest possible rates are obtained. For more information see the link below:

http://ribbs.usps.gov/99_testing/documents/tech_guides/MUProcessGuide.pdf

For maximum efficiency, returns will be processed via lockbox for automated input into LicenseTrack!

Case Study: City of Oakland

2008-12-19T15:03:00.001-08:00

Learn how the City of Oakland, CA has benefited from the use of our software. Take a look at the new case study available at http://progressivesolutions.com/.

Code Enforcement Officer Killed

2008-11-15T16:41:00.000-08:00

On Thursday November 13th 2008, code enforcement officer Rodney Morales, 40, was shot while investigating a routine zoning complaint in Aurora, Colorado. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead about an hour later. Police are searching for the killer and have announced there is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the shooter’s arrest and conviction. Our thoughts go out to his family. For more information visit: http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_10976011?source=rss

Orange County and Brea Fires

2008-11-16T11:54:00.000-08:00

To say that our user conference was red hot is clearly an understatement.
Soot and ash originating a mile away currently obscure the sky and are landing at our office grounds.
However, PSI is confident that the fire departments on the scene will successfully maintain the situation.
It has been said that the four seasons in California are: Fire, Flood, Earthquake and Drought. Lets hope the flood season is skipped this year.

'Red Flags' Rule Delayed to 5/1/2009

2008-10-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

The Federal Trade Commission will suspend enforcement of the new 'Red Flags Rule' until May 1, 2009. To access the complete article please visit the link below:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/10/redflags.shtm