Got this in an email yesterday:
During the Survey Advisory Board??s spring meeting yesterday, the Auditor??s Association let the board know that the Washington State legislature passed HB 1277 on April 24th. Our understanding of HB 1277 is that this will add a $100.00 fee on top of all other existing recording fees collected by the Auditor, and will affect map recordings. This was passed as an ??additional revenue source for eviction prevention and housing stability? and beginning July 1, 2021.
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This is likely not the only surprise coming from this Legislative session.
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Hoping this doesn't turn political; but what does recording a survey have to do with preventing evictions and housing stability?
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Dougie
Every time my health insurance goes up my fees go up.
Well I think going "political" will answer your question
I thought requiring surveys to be recorded was the holy grail?
This is sort of a reverse on one thing our state did a few years back.?ÿ The charge for recording a mortgage had pretty much always been based on the size of the mortgage, with a minimum charge of $XX.?ÿ They kept the $XX and deleted the part based on the size of the mortgage.?ÿ This became a huge hit on the income side to operate the Register of Deeds department.?ÿ An employee, that they really needed, had to be cut and funding was diverted from other departments to make up the shortage.
...but what does recording a survey have to do with preventing evictions and housing stability?
Nothing, but it's supposed to guilt trip you into not being angry about the fee.?ÿ Which, ironically, is even more insulting than the fee, imo.
guilt trip you into not being angry about the fee
I'm not angry about the fee... well, indirectly; it's my clients that aren't going to like it. To the point of not having their property surveyed.
I can't remember where it was, now, but several years ago there was a move in some state to allow courthouse workers to charge exorbitant prices to make copies.?ÿ That was squashed rather quickly when certain injured organizations demanded this go away.?ÿ Seems like it was $100 per page or $50 plus $5 per page or something else crazy.?ÿ Most places I go it ranges from free to $0.35 per page for most items and $2 to $5 for oversize copies.
I'll refrain from commenting since I work in the same state. I do NOT want to get banned.
It's hard to keep from being political when you make a political statement.?ÿ
I'll stick to commenting on surveying. $100 is to much to record a survey that isn't a subdivision. What does this make the total fees look like??ÿ
Take note, if you work in a non recording state.?ÿ Mandated recording should be fought wherever it rears its ugly head.?ÿ
Like many things, it appears to be a good idea, but the unintended consequences of providing bureaucrats with the means to extort PLSs outweighs the benefits.?ÿ
Plats can be recorded without a mandate.?ÿ There are not legions of surveyors in non recording states in camouflage and night vision goggles setting hidden corners.
If you currently work in a recording state and have low fees and few requirements for recording, don't worry, someone will eventually realize they can make you jump on command.?ÿ
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Rather than fighting recordation I think your state society ought to be fighting the fees instead.?ÿ Get title companies, developers, construction companies, and banks to help if need be.
Perhaps deeds should not be recorded.?ÿ Perhaps mortgages should not be recorded.?ÿ Perhaps easements should not be recorded.?ÿ Perhaps liens should not be recorded.?ÿ Perhaps the release of liens and mortgages should not be recorded.?ÿ Let's just make everything top secret.?ÿ If I say I own a certain piece of land and their are no mortgages, easements or liens, then simply believe what I'm telling you.?ÿ You have no proof otherwise.
It is $400+ in the Portland Metro area.?ÿ If you are doing a pre-construction survey (for R/W improvements) or property line adjustment you can tack another $800 deposit on for at cost review fees.?ÿ It should be noted that recording fees in Oregon go to the County Surveyor's Office.?ÿ I do not mind the $400, we get a lot of services out of them to include the perpetuation of GLO corners and records.
Does the fee apply to everything recorded with the auditor??ÿ It seems to me that records of survey might have just been caught up in a gill net bill.
Does the fee apply to everything recorded with the auditor?
I believe it does; but I could be wrong.
I'm not opposed to fees (taxes); I just wish they were smarter about how it is spent...
Except.... The better products produced by surveyors with access to all the modern records which likely results is less litigation and higher land surveyor salaries.
No, I don't have proof, just my experience working in recording and non recording states.?ÿ
Maybe no one is using night vision googles, but how many mounuments do you think have been missed because the plat is in someone's?ÿ private records??ÿ ?ÿDigging down 4' or scouring the ground for traces of rust or rotten stakes, or faintly marked stones is fine, but only if you know there should be something there. The problems arise when the next surveyor has the record that you didn't.
But in non recording states surveyors get around this with concept of expiring surveys. Land owners pay much less, but more often.?ÿ