Clerk proposes permanent GIS/mapping specialist, says new recording fees will cover position

A county official identified as Clark, speaking for the Clerk & Recorder functions, asked the Board of County Commissioners to approve converting a temporary employee working on the Map Missoula project to a full-time ongoing position and said the likely revenue from a recent recording-fee increase will more than cover the cost.

Clark told commissioners that Montana clerk-and-recorder associations successfully advocated to increase recording fees, and the change goes into effect Oct. 1. "We anticipate that with that bill passing and going into effect starting in October, our office will see an additional about quarter million dollars in revenue," Clark said. The office estimated the classification and matrix placement for the new GIS specialist would cost roughly $70,000—75,000 including fringe benefits.

Clark explained Map Missoula is an archival and mapping project designed to show how property boundaries evolved over time; the data have assisted a recent RSID verification project to more accurately identify taxpayers for special-district tax rolls. Clark said the position would help finish Map Missoula and then provide ongoing maintenance as new documents arrive, and would also manage RSID data to reduce future tax-roll errors.

No formal action to approve the position was recorded during the meeting. Commissioners asked about the cost estimate and were told the office expects to remain net positive after the fee change. Clark noted refinancing and other market conditions could raise or lower recording volume and revenue.

Clark framed the request as a revenue-neutral staff investment tied to a discrete statutory change in recording fees; commissioners did not vote on the staff request during the session included in the transcript.