Local Government TV

▼

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.
at

13 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2012 at 12:08 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2012 at 6:50 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Crispus AttucksJanuary 12, 2012 at 8:04 AM

    Good for her.

    A solid, caring county official.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Peg FerraroJanuary 12, 2012 at 8:31 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2012 at 10:20 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2012 at 11:38 AM

    Anon 10:20,

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

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2012 at 11:43 AM

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

    Hardly a dent, but you gotta start somewhere.

    -Clem

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2012 at 3:51 PM

    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...

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2012 at 4:40 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  11. DR. MoonflowerJanuary 12, 2012 at 9:01 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2012 at 12:10 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousJanuary 14, 2012 at 6:08 PM

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

    ReplyDelete

You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.