LaSalle County committee approves $100 standard recording fee, forwards ordinance to full board

LaSalle County Finance Committee members voted to advance an ordinance to set the county's standard recording fee at $100 for standard documents, moving the change to the full county board for final approval.

County Recorder Karen told the committee the change responds to new state legislation and the results of a recent fee study. "The fee study is attached for your information to look over and review. They said their recommendation was a hundred and 7, I am recommending a hundred," Karen said. She told members the county currently charges $77 for deeds, $80 for mortgages and $82 for leases and that the proposed single standard fee would replace those separate amounts.

The committee heard the fee study—s findings and a breakdown of how a $100 charge would be distributed: under the current $77 deed example, Karen said $19 goes to the general fund, the assessor's office receives $35, the recorder's GIS receives $1, state housing-related fees receive $18, recorders' and county RHSP receive $0.50 each, and the recorder's equipment fund receives $3. Under the $100 proposal she described to the committee, the general fund share would rise to $27, the assessor's share to $47, the recorder's equipment fund to $6 and the state housing support fees would remain unchanged. "If we increase our fees from the 77 to the 100, that's how the breakdown is gonna be," Karen said.

Karen and GIS staff framed the increase as a response to a steady drop in recorded documents and rising operating costs. Karen pointed to the county's document counts, saying the office recorded 24,366 documents in 2015 and 14,697 in 2024. Stephanie, describing GIS funding, told the committee GIS funding "comes solely from the recording fees" and that prior studies showed the need for higher fees to sustain GIS operations.

Opponents urged caution at the higher end of the consultant recommendation. Committee member Doug said the percentage jump is large and that constituents ultimately pay the increase; he said he had concerns and earlier indicated he "probably will abstain on this vote because I have concerns about raising it this much." The motion to approve the increase was offered by Tom and seconded by Doug. The chair conducted a roll call for the money-related measure; Bridal voted no, Greg voted aye, Tom voted aye and the chair recorded an aye. The motion carried and the chair said she would circulate the resolution for signatures.

Karen told members the ordinance will not go to the full county board until statutory posting requirements are met. She said the fee schedule must be posted in the recorder's office for not less than two and no more than four weeks; the fees will be posted on Feb. 10, appear before the full board on March 10, and — if approved by the full board — would be expected to take effect May 9, 60 days after full-board approval.

The committee discussed alternatives to the $100 number. Karen said the consultant recommended $107.06 but that she was recommending $100 as a round figure and that any amount above $100 would flow entirely to the general fund. Members also asked about who decides the distribution percentages and whether the committee could reallocate shares; Karen said the fee study sets the recommended distribution and that the committee can reduce individual shares but cannot increase a share above the consultant's recommendation.

The committee did not amend the consultant's recommended distribution and approved forwarding the ordinance to the full county board for final action. The recorder and county staff will post the required public notice and bring the ordinance to the full board in March.