Recording fees go up

Dec 04, 2008 at 04:08 pm by Observer-Review


YATES COUNTY   ADVERTISEMENT

Recording fees go up


PENN YAN—The Yates County legislators made some changes in fees charged for documents recorded in the county clerk’s office, at the Nov. 10 legislature meeting. The new law provides for enhanced personal privacy protection for documents recorded in the office by blocking Social Security numbers when documents are copied. The increase in fees were for recording, entering, indexing and endorsing a certificate on any instrument. There had not been a change in the recording fee since 1983.
Five dollars of the current $25 fee is retained by Yates County and the balance goes to New York State. The new fee will be $40 with Yates County retaining $15. Fees for entering, indexing and endorsing documents was set in 1977. The per page fee was changed from $3 to $5 during the meeting. This includes all land recording documents and some miscellaneous documents.
No comments were made during a public hearing that preceded the vote. Legislator Tim Dennis said he was opposed to the change, calling it, “Another method of tax increase. We have railed against the state for tax increases. This is not in the budget. There is no emergency. It could be revisited. Call it what you will, it’s a tax increase.” The resolution to increase fees passed with legislators Dennis, Rick Willson and Dan Banach voting against the new law.
In other business:
• Legislators passed a resolution opposing cost shifting to the counties. The resolution noted the New York State Legislature has been called back into session to find solutions for the potential $2 billion deficit in the state budget and the economic conditions of the state in general. The resolution noted the citizens of Yates County are seeking relief from unfunded state mandates and higher property taxes. Yates legislators urged the state legislature and local representatives not to shift any further state costs to our county and our citizens.
• Legislators voted to oppose proposed new state reporting regulations related to the New York State retirement reporting regulations. Legislator Douglas Paddock said, “The proposal is onerous from a bookkeeping standpoint.”
• A public hearing on addition of viable agricultural lands to the Yates County Agricultural District was set for 1:05 p.m. on December 8 in legislative chambers.
• Sarah Purdy was unanimously reappointed county administrator for a term of four years, effective January 1. 2009 through December 31, 2012.
• Legislators reduced the election budget for Federal Aid by $153,125. Following the meeting, County administrator Sarah Purdy said New York State paid for all but the county share of the voting machines.
• Legislators proclaimed November as Home Care Month and the week of November 9 to 15 as Home Health Aide Week in Yates County. The resolution stated, “Yates County wishes to give special thanks to the Home Health Aides who since 1970 have provided thousands of hours of compassionate, caring services to the till and frail in our community.”
• Legislators proclaimed the week of November 17 as Juror Appreciation week.
• Legislature chairman Robert Multer was authorized to sign an agreement
with Rochester-based Stuart Brown Associates, Inc. for contract services associated with the Home ‘08 grant administration. The fee of $142,600 will be reimbursed to the county from the $750,000 Community Development Block Grant which implements a home ownership program.
The next meeting of the Yates County Legislature will be at 1 p.m. on December 8 in legislative chambers in the county office building on Liberty Street in Penn Yan.
  $element(adman,groupads,YatesRight3)$
Sections: Additional News