Recorder of Deeds releases statistical report for 2020

More than 9,100 documents were filed in the Carbon County Recorder of Deeds office in 2020, according to an annual statistical report released by Donna L. Gentile, the current officeholder.

As a result of the department’s activities last year, the recorder collected and remitted $7,182,061.70 in revenues, including disbursements of $495,618.92 to Carbon County and $3,169,533.11 to municipalities and school districts in the county.

Breakdown of filings

A breakdown of the filings included: assignments of mortgage, 413; agreement of sale, 2; assignments of rents and leases, 134; assumption agreements, 2; deeds, 2,783; declaration of taking, 1; deed - time shares, 39; easements, 57; elected official commissions, 5; elected official bond security, 2; financing statements-UCC-I, 36; financing statements-UCC-3, 23; highway occupancy permit, 1; lease agreements, 3; mortgages, 2,592; mortgage amendments, 6; subdivision maps, 42; survey maps, 3; miscellaneous, 32; miscellaneous-no parcel, 3; modification agreements, 51; notary commissions, 61; notice of assessment, 1; orders of court, 10; powers of attorney, 212; preferential assessment applications, 29; preferential assessment breach, 1; releases of mortgage, 39; satisfactions of mortgage, 2,481; subordinations of mortgages, 21; and terminations of rents and leases, 105.

In all the office received and filed 9,195 documents.

County revenue

Gentile said the office collected $315,516.50 in recording fees, which was turned over on a monthly basis to the Carbon County General Fund. Other revenue derived from the Recorder of Deeds’ office last year included: commission on local realty taxes, $63,390.70; commission on state realty taxes, $31,690.32; Affordable Housing administrative fees, $17,209.80 data processing fees, $19,455.42; and commission earned on state writs and UCC statements, $156.10. The revenue the county received from recordings and commissions listed above totaled $447,418.84.

Gentile said some filings throughout the year also resulted in special funds amounting to $143,437.20, including $97,522.20 that was generated to assist the county in its Affordable Housing (rehabilitation) program; $18,366 that was received and deposited in the County Records Improvement Fund; and $27,549.00 that was added to the Recorder of Deeds Improvement Fund.

In addition, the county received $59,161.35 in additional revenue from other services provided by the recorder’s office, including $9,560.50 copies; $174 in certifications of copies; $8,916.80 in rejection fees; $20,888.78 in remote access fees; and $804.12 in miscellaneous recording fees.

In all, Gentile was able to turn over to the county $650,017.39.

Transfer taxes

Meanwhile, as part of the real estate recording process, the recorder’s office also collected $3,169,533.11 in transfer taxes for area school districts and municipalities.

Accordingly, in 2020, Gentile distributed those funds to the following:

School districts

Jim Thorpe Area School District, $840,087.23; Lehighton Area School District, $247,819.23; Palmerton Area School District, $282,672.54; Panther Valley Area School District, $74,685.45; Weatherly Area School District, $117,891.90; and Hazleton Area School District, $15,160.83.

Municipalities

Banks Township, $7,636.32; Beaver Meadows Borough, $7,974.50; Bowmanstown Borough, $12,312.92; East Penn Township, $29,964.54; East Side Borough, $2,668.20; Franklin Township, $60,578.02; Jim Thorpe Borough, $89,545.50; Kidder Township North, $61,08; Kidder Township South, $298,118.89; Lansford Borough, $19,027.83; Lausanne Township, $3,606.00; Lehigh Township, $11,412.36; Lehighton Borough, $52,760.55; Lower Towamensing Township, $66,551.92; Mahoning Township, $81,663.97; Nesquehoning Borough, $29,736.02; Packer Township, $9,700.87; Palmerton Borough, $93,359.10; Penn Forest Township, $458,422.08; Towamensing Township, $110,448.45; Parryville Borough, $16,649.10; Summit Hill Borough, $25,921.43; Weatherly, $29,423.02; and Weissport Borough, $6,202.29.

State proceeds

Gentile also remitted $3,516,959.67 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including $3,169,068.67 in realty transfer taxes, $342,688.50 in JCS/Access to Justice Funds and $4,592.50 in writ taxes; $610.00 in Notary writ taxes.