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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Recorder's Idea Leads to $401,770 in County Coffers

Ann with her husband, John
Back in 2010, in response to a Ron Angle complaint that the County was quickly running out of money, Recorder of Deeds Ann Achatz came up with a revenue-generating idea. She proposed charging a $10 fee for parcel identification checks on each instrument being recorded in her office. Her boss, Vic Mazziotti, liked the idea, and proposed it to County Council. They liked it, too, and adopted an ordinance authorizing the fee, starting in 2011. It was hoped this could raise $300,000, while simultaneously ensuring the accuracy of recorded documents.

Ann Achatz' idea failed to generate the hoped for $300,000 last year. The numbers have been tallied. During a bad year for real estate, this parcel fee brought actually brought $401,770 into County coffers, around $100,000 more than was predicted.

That's the equivalent of eight county jobs.

Ann is one of the department heads who are the backbone of County government. Politicians come and go, but they stay thirty or more years.

Unfortunately, this success has gone to her head. Now she's threatening to charge me an oxygen fee for breathing in her office.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I worked for a developer for some time in the poast few years. Her office ois unlike many in the county. She and her staff are helpful, courteous and always have a smile. Keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

More fees to the government for doing their job. Wasn't the real estate tax system supposed to handle this? Good job I guess but its another raking of the taxpayers in the County. Everytime you step foot in the County offices there is another fee that is needed. Its worse than going to an amusement park. Maybe the county might consider a ticket kiosk for services. Preload bucks on a card from the kiosk to use when you go to a county office so that you can pay your fee instead of carrying cash.

Crispus Attucks said...

Good for her.

A solid, caring county official.

Peg Ferraro said...

Ann truly is one of the stalwarts of our Northampton County Government. She deserves much respect!

Anonymous said...

Fees are Republican tax increases.
No suprise the source of this idea.
Hold on to your seats Corbett is about to institute the Romney method of, I didn't raise taxes. Yeah, you didn't but you had the highest increases in fees in Massachusetts history.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:20,

Better play it safe and RE-ELECT 0-BAMA!

Anonymous said...

How about just getting rid of 8troughfeeders and put that dough toward the swaption out?

Hardly a dent, but you gotta start somewhere.

-Clem

Anonymous said...

To anon 6:50...

We pay very minimal taxes here in Northampton compared to other states surrounding us, so stop your whinning. Just another county resident wanting the world for free. It's a specialized service and for 10 bucks, it's a steal. Personally, I think the prothonotary and other clerk services should be charging more fees through their services like Lehigh County does...

Anonymous said...

Fee's the hidden tax preferred by politicians the nation over. I never raised your tax I just fee you to death.

Sorry, not impressed.

Whiny taxpayer that pays your salary and your fees.

Anonymous said...

annon 3:51 nice try. A government fee is a tax. Its not optional and must be paid for the so called service. At some point government will all be about fees. You want to speak with a counter person, pay a fee. You want a question answered, pay a fee.

DR. Moonflower said...

My, my, my, such bitter give me everything free crybabies. You anons have taken too many nobamma pills. Take an good dose of reality and jump off a bridge in the morn.

Anonymous said...

That comment will be $20 Dr. ....will that be cash or check.

Anonymous said...

Fees, assessments, taxes, impacts, etc. Don't they all mean the same, less money in your pocket?