Recorder reports steady activity, large backlog of indexed documents and monitors proposed transfer-tax and redaction bills

The county recorder provided monthly recording figures, described a large backlog of scanned documents awaiting indexing, and said the office and stakeholders are monitoring proposed state legislation on transfer taxes and expanded redactions. Nut graf: Recorder Karen told the committee the office recorded 1,261 documents in July and has 393,165 scanned documents that have been imaged but still need indexing to be searchable online. She said the county is tracking proposed legislation that would raise transfer taxes and a bill (House Bill 4084) that would broaden the scope of records eligible for redaction. Karen said the office has recorded 9,234 documents from Dec. 1 through July and that monthly returns and subscriptions continue to bring revenue into three funds (general, equipment, GIS). "For the month of July, we recorded 1,261 documents," she said. She reported 71 Laredo subscribers (title companies and attorneys), 4,443 tapestry searches (pay-per-search customers), a property-fraud-alert subscription list of 2,319 enrollments and 565 veterans and 34 businesses in a rewards program. On backlog and indexing, Karen said 393,165 documents have been scanned and imaged but still require indexing to make them searchable and that the county's vendor helps the office with processing the index queue. Legislation: Karen said the recorder's office is watching proposals to increase transfer taxes paid on property sales and is opposed to those increases; the office is also following House Bill 4084, which would expand which records can be redacted at request. "We understand ... there's a lot of areas that people would like their information redacted," she said, but added the office must balance redactions with public-records requirements. The committee accepted the recorder's report and approved payment of recorder bills (motions carried). The committee also placed the recorder's report on file. Ending: Recorder staff said they will continue indexing work with their software vendor and will monitor the legislative proposals and report back as needed.