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HEARING - Recorder-Clerk’s Office recommending the Board conduct a public hearing to Introduce and Adopt Ordinance 5272 amending Sections 3.25 of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code to update the Recorder-Clerk’s Schedule of Fees, with fee changes to become effective January 1, 2027.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
California Government Code Chapter 12.5 County Fees, Section 54985, authorizes the Board of Supervisors to "recover the cost of providing any product or service . . " (Attachment A). Chapter 3.25 of Title 3 of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code describes the services and products which the Recorder-Clerk provides on a fee basis.
On November 5, 2019, the Board approved Ordinance 5108 amending Title 3 Revenue and Finance, Chapters 3.25 to update the schedule of fees and fee changes. Since the adoption of the current Fee Schedule, the Recorder-Clerk's Office has seen an increase in the cost for services.
On September 22, 2026, the Board granted conceptual approval for the Recorder-Clerk’s Office to update the fees recovering the costs of providing services. Staff reviewed the cost of providing services based on the Fiscal Years 2024-25 budget (Attachment B - Recorder-Clerk Fee Study). The study reflected a decrease in Recorder-Clerk’s Office fully-burdened hourly rate from $119 to $111 due to various efficiencies implemented in the Recorder-Clerk's office, changes in software, and a reduction of staff in Fiscal Year 2024-25. The cost of providing services is determined by multiplying the time required for the service by the hourly rate. Those fees that are not mandated by statute are adjusted to recover more of the County costs to provide the services. While the Recorder-Clerk’s Office fully-burdened rate has declined, many fees are increasing to reflect 100% cost recovery, when the past Fee Study sought to obtain between 49% to 84% cost recovery.
Attachment C provides a red-line version of the updated fee schedule. Attachment D provides a clean version of the updated fee schedule.
This Ordinance is proposed for approval and adoption pursuant to Government Code (GOV) subsection (§) 54985 and County Ordinance Code Section 1.04.260, following today's required public meeting (GOV § 54986). The Ordinance has been noticed (Attachment E) and may be passed at today's meeting with no second reading. If approved, the Ordinance will take effect 30 days from execution. The new fees will begin being collected January 1, 2027, with the exception of the Deed and Mortgage Notification Fee (Senate Bill 255) which will not begin collection until April 1, 2027.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve this revised ordinance and the Recorder-Clerk would continue to offset the cost of services with Recorder Restricted Revenue.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
September 22, 2026, Legistar file 26-1474, Conceptual approval of the Fee Schedule
November 5, 2019, Legistar file 19-1568, Ordinance 5108 Final Passage
September 24, 2019, Legistar file 19-1423, Board reconsideration of Ordinance
August 27, 2019, Legistar file 19-1205, Recorder-Clerk Fee Study Hearing
April 30, 2019, Legistar file 19-0681, Conceptual approval of Ordinance to set fees
December 18, 2018, Legistar file 18-1872, Receive and File of Fee Study, 12/18/18
September 1, 2015, Legistar file 15-0921, Adopted Resolution 150-2015
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel has approved this Fee Schedule Update as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Should the Board approve this revised ordinance the Recorder-Clerk will be able to increase cost recovery from 84% to 92-100% of the budgeted cost depending on the fee. This will increase Recorder-Clerk revenue, allow the Recorder-Clerk’s office to continue to not impact Net County Cost and reduce the amount of restricted revenue being used for providing services.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain the Chair’s signature on the original Ordinance
2) Publish a summary of this Ordinance pursuance to Government Code Section 2514(b)(1)
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Janelle K. Horne, Recorder-Clerk
Catrina Christensen, Assistant Recorder-Clerk