BISBEE — Starting Oct. 19, people recording or copying documents at the county recorder’s office will pay an additional $4 surcharge.
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“I have an issue with it. I understand the need for it, but we are passing a tax,” noted Searle.
The fee increase was proposed by the county Assessor Phil Leiendecker to cover costs for a new software storage and retrieval system.
The system will replace the one now provided by the Arizona Department of Revenue. The state will stop providing the system in 2012.
“This is the best choice in our opinion,” Leiendecker said. “With the recent approval of the purchase of hardware and software from Colorado CustomWare Inc. to convert all Arizona Department of Revenue files to a locally operated assessor information system, consideration was again given to adopt the surcharge to pay for that purchase.”
The $605,093 software package was approved by the supervisors during the 2009-2010 budget talks, Deputy County Administrator Jim Vlahovich said.
The fees would provide an additional $10,000 or more per month, so though it will take some time, the county will pay for the system in about five years.
Delay sought
County Recorder Christine Rhodes asked the supervisors to delay tacking on the new surcharge until Dec. 1 so she would have ample time to notify customers — many of whom are out of state — through mass mailings, email notifications and public service announcements.
That delay would cost about $15,000, Supervisor Pat Call said.
He and Supervisor Ann English voted in favor of commencing the new surcharge Oct. 19.
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