Commissioners renew $10 county clerk records archive fee after public hearing

The Liberty County Commissioners Court voted Aug. 13 to renew a $10 county clerk records archive fee that funds preservation and restoration of the county's permanent records.

County Judge opened a public hearing on the continuation of the fee, citing Local Government Code section 118.025 and saying the archive fund "is solely for the preservation and restoration of Liberty County's permanent records collection" managed by the county clerk.

County Clerk Lee Chambers told the court the project is near completion and that the office has added volumes, including sheriff's records, to the restoration list. "This is the thing that we started doing last year to sort of preapprove the things we pay out of records management," Chambers said, describing payroll and software costs covered by the plan.

After the clerk's remarks and confirmation that the public notice had been properly posted, the court moved and seconded the item. The motion to renew the fee and approve the records management plan carried on an aye vote.

Why it matters: The $10 fee is dedicated to long-term preservation of land records and other permanent documents; court materials say the program also covers a portion of staff time and software used in the clerk's office. Chambers said several additional volumes are now earmarked for restoration and the program will continue through the next three years of scheduled work.

Next steps: The fee and plan are approved for the budget year ending Sept. 30, 2025, and the clerk's office will continue restoration work under the adopted plan.