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Cowlitz County chair outlines state fee increases affecting local services, effective July 27
Summary
The BOCC chair summarized several state-level fee increases and new surcharges that will affect county transactions, including recording fees rising from $18 to $301, a $100 surcharge added to marriage licenses (raising cost to $172), discover pass increases and a new luxury vehicle tax for vehicles over $100,000.
The chair of the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday briefed commissioners on a package of recently enacted state law changes that raise multiple fees county residents pay and will take effect July 27.
The chair told the board that House Bill 1855 and House Bill 1858 eliminate certain recording exemptions and increase the recording fee for assignments and substitutions on deeds from $18 to $301. He also cited House Bill 1498, which adds a $100 surcharge to marriage licenses to fund a statewide domestic violence co-responder program; as a result, marriage licenses will increase from $72 to $172.
“Increases you’re gonna see: recording fees, House Bill 1855 1858 ... the fee for those recording documents will increase from $18 to $301. Marriage license fee, House Bill 1498. This one adds a hundred dollar surcharge ... the cost of a marriage license will increase from $72 to a hundred and $72, and that's effective July 27,” the chair said.
The chair also summarized several other fee updates from recent legislation, including increases in tab renewal and filing fees, electrical vehicle and weight fees, and an increase to the Discover Pass from $30 to $45. Personalized license plates will increase from $42 to $52, and a new luxury vehicle tax will apply to vehicles with a value over $100,000 at a rate of 8% of the sales price.
County staff (the auditor) will send letters to businesses and frequent county customers ahead of the effective date to explain the fee changes and to avoid directing complaints at local county staff who are implementing state law, the chair said. No local policy action was taken at the meeting; the briefing was informational.
