Board votes to waive $1 e‑recording surcharge on death certificates starting July 1

Clerk staff briefed the Board of County Commissioners that the e‑recording surcharge structure had changed and that the ERBT board had decided not to charge their $2 on death certificates, leaving counties to decide whether to collect a local $1 surcharge.

The clerk recommended waiving the county surcharge for death certificates. One commissioner moved to waive the fees as presented; the motion was made effective July 1 and approved on a voice vote. "I move to waive the fees as presented and described by the clerk regarding death certificates," the mover said during the meeting. Staff noted the waiver will be formalized by resolution following the meeting and that the county clerk will stamp certificates and paperwork once the state's certificate date is provided.

Commissioners discussed administrative practicality and the nominal revenue expected from the surcharge, and several members noted it did not make sense to collect a fee that would likely cost more to process than it would raise. The board directed staff to draft the formal resolution and implementation language for a subsequent meeting.