HB 3357B Raises County Clerks Fees

Posted on TrackTheirVote.org

This bill increases fee amount collected by county clerks to $40 for certain real property documents, and exempts fees for certain affordable housing programs.

Personal Choice and Responsibility
Oregonians qualifying for low income housing would gain more by being lifted out of their low income status with economic growth, but spending like this does the opposite and engrains them into a low-class status. This is a form of wealth distribution.

Fiscal Responsibility

Document recording is a duty of county clerks required under Oregon law for certain real property documents including but not limited to deeds, mortgages, and contracts affecting the title to real property. The $20 recording fee is increased to $40 distributed as 76% to the General Housing Account, 10% to the Emergency Housing Account, and 14% to the Home Ownership Assistance Account. Revenue from this fee was approximately $14 million during the 2016 fiscal year, which doubles by this bill. Total additional revenues are projected to be $18.9 million OF in the 2017-19 biennium and $25.6 million OF in the 2019-21 biennium.

Limited Government
Defines affordable housing as housing affordable to individuals of low-income or very low-income. There are subsequent problems the state is battling in creating low-income communities. This bill puts the cart before the horse of a working economy.

Local Control
Exempts fees for certain housing assistance programs putting counties in jeopardy of having unfunded mandates that is prohibited by Article XI, Section 15 of the Oregon Constitution.