Auditor proposes $13,109 recording-system upgrade; county to use restricted fund

The county auditor's office told commissioners it plans a technology upgrade to the recording department to let small filers submit documents electronically, add an e-certified function to apply a digital version of the auditor's signature to certified records, and upgrade credit-card payments through the Tyler payments system. "So the total for all that is $13,109 and that money will be coming out of the auditors O and M restricted fund and not touch current expense," the auditor's office staff said, adding that no general-fund budget amendment would be required. The staff said two credit-card readers will be purchased for the counter and that each electronic recording or eCertify transaction will include a $3 per-transaction charge. Commissioners asked whether popular commercial readers such as Square could be used; staff said the county's current devices and vendor arrangements — including transaction fees — were being considered. The staff noted that the per-transaction fees could bring in some additional revenue to partially offset costs. The briefing did not take formal action but indicated staff would move forward with purchasing from the restricted fund and implement the Tyler payments integration.