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Register of Deeds asks Wayne County to raise recording fees to $30 to cover $2.5M shortfall
Summary
Register of Deeds Youngblood told commissioners the office projects a $2.5 million deficit and asked the commission to forward an ordinance amendment raising recording charges to $30, effective Dec. 1, 2025. The committee voted to recommend the amendment to the full board.
Register of Deeds Youngblood told the committee that his office, which is self-funded, is projecting a $2.5 million deficit and asked the commission to approve an increase in recording charges.
"Today, I'm asking for a rate increase in the register of deeds recording charges. Not in my 25 years of term has there been an increase. The last increase, I believe, was in 1998," Youngblood said. He added that recordings have declined because higher interest rates have reduced mortgage activity.
Youngblood said the office had to disband a fraud team because of lack of funding and that filings are the primary revenue source for the office. He told the committee that matching other counties by raising the fee to $30 would allow the office "to absorb all our costs and continue without being a burden to the county."
Counsel confirmed the ordinance's effective date will be Dec. 1, 2025. Commissioner Baydoun moved and Commissioner Anderson supported forwarding the ordinance amendment to the full board. The chair voted yes and the motion "carries" in committee.
The item will return to the full board for final action. The committee record shows the motion carried in committee but does not include a roll-call vote tally in the transcript; the ordinance language and effective date were confirmed for the full board packet.
