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PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR INCREASE IN CERTAIN FEES CHARGED BY THE COOK COUNTY CLERK TO SUPPORT AUTOMATION OF RECORDS
WHEREAS, the Cook County Clerk creates and maintains real property and tax records using the Countywide Map system, real property tax records and updates those records with real property divisions, the dedication of real property, property tax redemptions, and other transactions; and,
WHEREAS, in 1994 the County Board established an automation fund for the Cook County Clerk’s Office so that a portion of fees could be used to help defray the cost of automating its records; and,
WHEREAS, despite increased costs and the need to automate records, internal fees have not been increased in tax services since 2003 and additional funding is needed to defray costs of automation; and,
WHEREAS, the County of Cook is a home rule unit of local government pursuant to the 1970 Illinois Constitution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that Chapter 2 Administration, Sec. 2-172 and Sec. 2-175 are hereby amended as follows:
Sec. 2-172. - Clerk fees generally.
(a) The fees of the County Clerk with respect to the herein described services shall be as set forth in Section 32-1.
(1) The fee for certifying from the official records of the County the general taxes levied and paid for each year, for each lot or tract shall be as set forth in Section 32-1.
(2) The fee for issuing a certificate of deposit for redemption from sold or forfeited taxes shall be as set forth in for the original and for each duplicate certificate.
(3) The fee for making a search and report of general taxes and special assessments for use in the preparation of estimate of cost of redemption from sales or forfeitures or for withdrawn or otherwise delinquent taxes or for use in the preparation of estimate of cost of purchase of forfeited property, or for use in preparation of order on the County Collector for searches requested by buyers at annual tax sale, for each lot or tract, for the first year searched, and for each additional year or fraction thereof shall be as set forth in Section 32-1.
(4) The fee for each tract or lot for preparing from tax search report an estimate of cost of redemption concerning property sold, forfeited or withdrawn for nonpayment of general taxes and special assessments shall be as set forth in Section 32-1.
(5) The fee for issuance of a tax deed as directed by order of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be as set forth in Section 32-1.
(6) The County Clerk shall charge and collect a fee as set forth in Section 32-1 for the filing of a certificate of an assumed business name. The County Clerk shall also charge and collect a fee as set forth in Section 32-1 for any subsequent amendments by an assumed business name registrant to a previously filed certificate.
(7) The fee for issuing a report of all redemptions of sold or forfeited taxes submitted to the County Clerk for any seven day period shall be as set forth in Section 32-1.
(8) The fee for certification of taxes paid for multiple years in conjunction with the filing of a plat of subdivision, dedication or vacation shall be as set forth in Section 32-1.
(b) The following fees shall be deposited by the County Clerk with the Comptroller of Cook County to the general fund:
(1) The fee for issuing an original certificate of deposit for redemption from sold or forfeited taxes and the fee for each duplicate certificate shall be as set forth in Section 32-1.
(2) The fee for the first year searched on each lot or tract and the fee for each additional year or fraction thereof searched when making a search and report of general taxes and special assessments for use in the preparation of estimate of cost of redemption from sales or for use in the preparation of estimate of cost of purchase of forfeited property, or for use in preparation of 20-year delinquent tax certifications to be filed in tax deed petition cases, or for use in preparation of order on the County Collector for searches requested by buyers at annual tax sale shall be as set forth in Section 32-1.
(3) The fee for preparing from tax search report an estimate of cost of redemption concerning property sold, forfeited or withdrawn for nonpayment of general taxes and special assessments.
(4) The fee for issuing a tax deed pursuant to order of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be as set forth in Section 32-1.
(c) The fees listed hereafter shall be deposited by the County Clerk in the following manner:
(1) The fee for certifying the general taxes levied and paid for each lot or tract, for each year as set forth in Section 32-1:
a. One dollar shall be deposited with the Comptroller to the general fund;
b. Four dollars shall be deposited with the Comptroller to the County Clerk's automation fund.
(2) The fee for making a search and report of general taxes and special assessments for use in the preparation of estimate of cost of redemption for forfeited property or for withdrawn or otherwise delinquent general taxes or special assessments, except in connection with a sale of the taxes as set forth in Section 32-1:
a. For the first year searched for each lot or tract, $4.00 shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the general fund and $6.00 shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the County Clerk's automation fund; and
b. For each additional year searched, $2.00 for each year shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the general fund and $1.00 shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the County Clerk's automation fund.
(3) The fee for issuing a duplicate certificate of deposit for redemption for sold or forfeited taxes as set forth in Section 32-1:
a. Three dollars shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the general fund.
b. Seven dollars shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the County Clerk’s automation fund.
(4) The fee for issuing a tax deed pursuant to order of the Circuit Court of Cook County as set forth in Section 32-1:
a. Thirty five dollars ($35) shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the general fund.
b. Sixty five dollars ($65) shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the County Clerk’s automation fund.
(5) The fee for issuing a report of all redemptions of sold or forfeited taxes submitted to the County Clerk for any seven day period as set forth in Section 32-1:
a. Ten dollars shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the general fund.
b. Ten dollars shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the County Clerk’s automation fund.
(6) The fee for certification of taxes paid for multiple years in conjunction with the filing of a plat of subdivision, dedication or vacation as set forth in Section 32-1:
a. Ten dollars shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the general fund.
b. Forty dollars shall be deposited with the County Comptroller to the County Clerk’s automation fund.
Sec. 2-175. - Clerk's legal description fee.
(a) That the County Clerk shall charge and collect a fee as set out in Section 32-1 from each party who purchases a copy of a legal description in the County, and a fee as set out in Section 32-1 from each party who purchases a certified legal description, to be deposited in the (County) Clerk's Automation Fund.
(b) This fee shall be in addition to all other fees and charges of the Clerk and shall be remitted monthly by the Clerk to the County Treasurer in the special fund designated as the Clerk's Automation Fund.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that Chapter 32 Fees, Sec. 32-1 is hereby amended as follows:
Sec. 32-1. - Fee schedule.
The fees or charges provided for or required by the below-listed sections shall be as shown below:
COMPLETE CHART OF FEES AND CHANGES CAN BE FOUND AT <http://tinyurl.com/gombv7o>
Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption.
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