Assessor-Recorder seeks extension of electronic-recording MOU with CERTNA; per-title fee rises to $0.34

The Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 on May 1 to send to the full Board a resolution authorizing the Office of the Assessor-Recorder to execute Amendment No. 2 to its memorandum of understanding with the California Electronic Recording Transaction Network Authority (CERTNA), extending the agreement through Jan. 10, 2035 and increasing the per-title electronic-recording fee from $0.30 to $0.34.

The resolution, presented by Holly Long, manager of legislative affairs for the Office of the Assessor-Recorder, aims to preserve the city’s existing electronic-recording service that the office has used since 2013. Long said CERTNA is one of two authorized electronic-recording providers in California and that the amendment would ensure continuity of service, allow same-day recording for many documents and reduce manual processing steps.

Long said e-recording has grown in San Francisco: roughly 75% of the office’s recordings are now submitted electronically, and nearly 800 entities — title companies, law firms, lenders and government agencies — use e-recording for the city. The office’s finance manager, Emily Alt, joined Long for the presentation and described operational benefits, including receiving digitized documents (removing the need to scan paper), faster automated workflows and next-day payments.

On cost, Long told the committee the amendment raises the per-title fee from $0.30 to $0.34. Using the office’s stated averages — about 60,000 recorded documents over the last 10 years and roughly 18,000 over the last three years — the office estimates the increase would amount to approximately $5,000 to $7,000 annually, an amount the Assessor-Recorder said it can absorb within the current fee structure.

Long also described switching providers as costly. She said a second provider would require a roughly $100,000 buy-in and substantial system reconfiguration, in addition to renegotiating nearly 800 separate agreements; staff characterized that option as creating a major administrative and financial burden. The Assessor-Recorder’s office told the committee CERTNA has provided reliable service for more than a decade and has been responsive to reporting and standardization needs.

There were no public speakers on the item. Chair Jackie Fielder moved to forward the resolution to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation; the roll call was Supervisor Sauter — aye; Supervisor Sheryl — aye; Chair Fielder — aye. The committee vote passed 3-0. The item is expected to be heard by the full Board of Supervisors on May 13, unless otherwise stated.