To: Board of Supervisors
From: Clerk/Recorder
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Authorization for Board Members to Sign Letter Requesting Governor Newsom Sign Assembly Bill 1430 (Bennett) Relating to Recorder Fee Stabilization
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize each Board member to sign the attached letter requesting Governor Newsom sign Assembly Bill 1430 (Bennett) relating to Recorder Fee Stabilization; and
2. Direct the Clerk of the Board to send the executed letter to the County Administrative Office for transmittal to the Governor’s Office.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
Assembly Bill 1430 (Bennett) addresses the critical issue of Recorder Fee Stabilization for counties throughout California. The County Recorder provides document recording services under a fee-for-service model, with base fees that were last adjusted in 2010. These fees were designed to fully fund the recording function to avoid drawing upon general fund resources.
However, the current fee structure does not account for inflationary pressures or mandated increases in the state minimum wage. These rising costs have created significant budgetary challenges, as the established fee no longer covers the full cost of the recording function. This forces counties to rely on general fund subsidies, diverting resources away from other essential public services including public safety, public health, and general county administration.
Without fee adjustment, counties face reductions in staff and limitations on public counter hours, which risks slowing the timely recording of real estate transactions and other essential documents. This directly affects local economic stability and recovery.
AB 1430 ensures that recording services remain fully funded, responsive to the public, and staffed by an adequately trained workforce. By updating the base fee structure, this bill will allow counties to maintain the standards of timeliness and quality that Californians expect.
The attached letter requests that Governor Newsom sign AB 1430, as the bill supports the County's Legislative Platform goals to protect and preserve the county's ability to fund local programs and oppose attempts to shift costs to counties.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100), Recorder’s Fees
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
This action has no direct financial impact. However, if AB 1430 is signed into law, it would allow the county to adjust recorder fees to cover the full cost of recording services, reducing the need for General Fund subsidies.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
N/A
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
This letter will be sent to the Governor's Office and may be shared with other county associations and legislative representatives who support AB 1430.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. The Board could choose not to send the letter, however this would miss an opportunity to advocate for legislation that supports county fiscal sustainability.
2. The Board could modify the letter content before authorization.
3. The Board could direct individual supervisors to send separate letters rather than a unified Board letter.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Draft Letter to Governor Newsom
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A