Recorder of Deeds seeks more archive digitization, outlines tornado recovery work

Michael Butler, St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds, told the Budget and Public Employees Committee on May 27 that his office’s FY26 priorities include digitizing older land and vital records and supporting homeowners affected by recent tornadoes.

The Recorder’s office is responsible for land records, birth and death records and archival custody for many documents dating back more than a century. Butler told the committee that about 40% of the office’s documents remain unarchived and that the office has sought American Rescue Plan Act funds to digitize older records; the ARPA request—up to $1,500,000—was not approved. “Our focus for the fiscal year 2026 is digitizing more of our archives,” Butler said.

Digitization and improved online services are framed as both a public-service and revenue strategy. Butler said the office has increased online transactions from roughly 20% to about 70% of customer business and aims for citizens to be able to access all documents without visiting City Hall. “My goal is that you no longer have to come to City Hall at all to come to our office, that you can access every single document online,” Butler said.

Butler described a recent renovation that consolidated in-person services into a single Recorder Assistance Center so staff come to customers rather than customers navigating multiple rooms. He said that operational efficiency allowed the office to reduce full‑time staffing on the general revenue side from 37 to 33 since he took office and to reduce one IT position this year, keeping the budget essentially flat while providing staff raises.

On tornado recovery, Butler said the office is proactively providing deed information to affected homeowners and partnering with InvestSTL and legal-service groups to assist residents. He said the office has adjusted some procedures to reduce the risk of deed‑transfer fraud after the storm, including requiring both parties and identification to be present for quick‑claim transfers. “We’re protecting against scammers,” Butler said.

Committee members praised the office’s customer service and modernization. Alderman Devote commended Butler for staff responsiveness and flagged that generationally held titles in North St. Louis can be “fractured” and may require extended legal assistance after the tornado. Alderman Browning and Alderman Velasquez also thanked Butler for the office’s work.

Butler invited continued coordination with other city departments and non‑profit legal partners to handle increased title work expected after the storm. There was no formal committee vote on the Recorder’s budget during the May 27 session.

The committee recessed to other business and will continue departmental budget hearings on subsequent days.