County recorder reports rising e-filings and property-fraud signups, flags potential state change that could keep housing funds local

Linda Hoffman, Medina County Recorder, told commissioners her office continues to see steady activity and growth in electronic filings and in the office’s property-fraud alert program.

Hoffman said about 65% of recorded documents this year have come through electronic filing; through March the office had processed 3,476 e-filings, roughly 500 more than the same period in fiscal year 2024.

Hoffman said she has pushed to enroll property owners in the recorder’s property-fraud alert program. "When I came into office in January 2021, we had just over 700 folks signed up for that program; we’re now up to 5,508 property owners in the county who have taken advantage of that program," she said.

Hoffman also raised a pending change before the state legislature that she said would alter how contributions to the Ohio housing funding program are handled. She said that historically Medina County recorded contributions that were sent to Columbus and then partially returned via competitive applications; the change she described would leave those funds locally rather than sending them out of the county.

As examples, Hoffman said Medina County contributed about $847,000 in 2022, about $650,000 in 2023 and "close to $680,000" last year. She said there is a roughly 90-day period after the bill becomes effective and suggested withholding the fourth-quarter payment pending the bill’s finalization so some funds might remain available locally. "It's historically far less. This is a windfall from Medina County should this bill go through. It's a windfall," Hoffman said.

Hoffman said the potential change could free up dollars at a time the county is doing more to address housing needs; she said the property-fraud program continues to grow and that participation depends in part on turnover rates for property ownership and refinance activity.