More than 13,000 documents were filed in the Carbon County Recorder of Deeds office in 2021, 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 $13,015,049.59 in revenues, which were disbursed as follows: Carbon County, $762,801.54; municipalities and school districts in the county, $5,886,310.09; state realty tax, $5,874,051.46; other state tax, $491,886.50.

Breakdown of filings

A breakdown of the filings included: assignments of mortgage, 417; agreements of sale, 4; assignment of rents and leases, 171; deeds, 3,735; declaration of taking, 2; deed-time share, 44; easements, 133; elected official commissions, 3; elected official bond security, 1; financing statement - UCC-I, 63; financing statement UCC-3, 53; lease agreements, 5 mortgages, 3,592; mortgage amendment, 14; post construction map, 1; subdivision map, 64; survey map, 7; miscellaneous, 65; miscellaneous - no parcel, 2; modification agreement, 96; notary commission, 91; notice of assessment, 6; order of court, 9; power of attorney, 300; preferential assessment application, 66; release of mortgage, 40; satisfaction of mortgage, 3,936; soldiers discharge, 4; subordination of mortgages, 35 and termination of rents and leases, 131.

In all, the office received and filed 13,237 documents.

County revenue

Gentile said the office collected $518,321.50 in recording fees, which was turned over on a monthly basis to the Carbon County General Fund. Other revenue derived from the office last year included: commission on local realty taxes, $117,726.27; commission on state realty taxes, $58,740.61; Affordable Housing administrative fee, $23,785.80; data processing fees, $20,508.04; and commission earned on state writs and UCC statements, $223.15. The total revenue the county received from recordings and commissions listed above were $739,305.37.

Gentile said some filings throughout the year also resulted in special funds amounting to $200,186.20, including $134,786.20 that was generated to assist the county in its Affordable Housing (rehabilitation) program; $26,160.00 that was received and deposited in the County Records Improvement Fund; and $39,240.00 that was added to the Recorder of Deeds Improvement Fund.

In addition, the county received $47,715.27 in additional revenue from other services provided by the recorder’s office, including $12,931.50 copies; $160.50 in certifications of copies; $6,700 in rejection fees; $27,207.23 in remote access fees; and $716.04 in miscellaneous recording fees.

Transfer taxes

Meanwhile, as part of the real estate recording process, the recorder’s office also collected $5,886,310.09 in transfer taxes for area school districts and municipalities. Accordingly, in 2021, Gentile distributed those funds to the following:

School districts: Jim Thorpe, $1,186,984.50; Lehighton, $418,487.82; Palmerton, $492,823.29; Panther Valley, $196,949.54; Weatherly, $617,018.93; and Hazleton, $30,891.89.

Municipalities: Banks Township, $22,152.62; Beaver Meadows Borough, $8,739.26; Bowmanstown Borough, $21,740; East Penn Township, $35,237.99; East Side Borough, $340.50; Franklin Township, $96,690.52; Jim Thorpe Borough, $95,920.33; Kidder Township North, $566,916.46; Kidder Township South, $428,910.57; Lansford Borough, $45,943.59; Lausanne Township, $1,075; Lehigh Township, $5,414.50; Lehighton Borough, $99,465.31; Lower Towamensing Township, $243,583.84; Mahoning Township, $172,465.96; Nesquehoning Borough, $103,003.58; Packer Township, $13,437.05; Palmerton Borough, $102,306.51; Penn Forest Township, $662,152.45; Towamensing Township, $125,192.84; Parryville Borough, $7,143.26; Summit Hill Borough, $48,002.09; Weatherly, $29,835.33; and Weissport Borough, $7,484.56.

State proceeds

Gentile also remitted $6,367,437.96 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including $5,875,551.46 in realty transfer taxes, $484,449 in JCS/Access to Justice Funds, $6,527.50 in writ taxes and $910 in Notary writ taxes.