More than 11,000 documents were filed in the Carbon County Recorder of Deeds office in 2022, 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 $10,627,734.89 in revenues, comprising of $5,471,751.17 in e-recordings and $5,155,983.72 in paper recordings.

The total revenue collected was disbursed as follows: Carbon County, $654,085.75: municipalities, $2,387,552.41; school districts, $2,387,553.93; state realty tax, $4,774,448.05: other state taxes, $424,094.75.

Breakdown of filings

A breakdown of the document filings consist of: Assignment of Mortgage, 482; Action to Quiet Title, 1; Agreement of Sale, 1; Assignment of Rents and Leases, 195; Assumption Agreement, 1; Deeds, 3416; Declaration of Taking, 1; Deed-Time Share, 120; Easements, 95; Elected Official Bond Security, 3; Financing Statement - UCC-I, 99; Financing Statement UCC-3, 43; Highway Occupancy Permit, 1; Lease Agreement, 3 Mortgage, 3089; Mortgage Amendment, 6; Highway Maps, 2; Subdivision Map, 48; Survey Map, 5; Miscellaneous, 46; Miscellaneous - No Parcel, 1; Modification Agreement, 129; Notary Commission, 66; Notice of Assessment, 1; Order of Court, 13; Power of Attorney, 290; Preferential Assessment Application, 95; Release of Mortgage, 49; Satisfaction of Mortgage, 2,964; Soldiers Discharge, 22; Subordination of Mortgages, 15 and Termination of Rents and Leases, 159.

In all, the office received and filed 11,357 documents.

County revenue

Gentile said the office collected $449,793.50 in recording fees, which were 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, $95,502.19; commission on state realty taxes, $47,744.48; Affordable Housing administrative fee, $20,001.30; data processing fees, $10,672.50; commission earned on state writs and UCC statements, $190.22. The total revenue the county received from recordings and commissions listed above was $623,904.19.

Gentile said some filings throughout the year also resulted in special funds amounting to $170,520.70. This included $113,340.70, generated to assist the county in its Affordable Housing (rehabilitation) program; $22,872.00, received and deposited in the County Records Improvement Fund; and $34,308.00 that was added to the Recorder of Deeds Improvement Fund.

In addition, the county received $38,053.32 from other services provided by the recorder’s office, including $10,558.50 copies; $114.00 in certifications of copies; $2,525.00 in rejection fees; $24,362.82 in remote access fees; $493.00 in miscellaneous recording fees.

Transfer taxes

As part of the real estate recording process, the recorder’s office also collected $4,774,448.05 in transfer taxes for area school districts and municipalities. Accordingly, in 2022, Gentile distributed those funds to the following:

School districts - Jim Thorpe Area School District, $1,308,929.46; Lehighton Area School District, $364,949.45; Palmerton Area School District, $287,338.26; Panther Valley School District, $192,934.74; Weatherly Area School District, $205,732.41; and Hazleton Area School District, $27,669.61.

Municipalities - Banks Township, $13,638.87; Beaver Meadows Borough, $14,030.73; Bowmanstown Borough, $20,214.14; East Penn Township, $40,127.81; East Side Borough, $18,627.52; Franklin Township, $124,590.27; Jim Thorpe Borough, $112,149.73; Kidder Township North, $102,514.80; Kidder Township South, $560,501.11; Lansford Borough, $56,853.43; Lausanne Township, $11,779.46; Lehigh Township, $12,847.79; Lehighton Borough, $91,145.36; Lower Towamensing Township, $59,023.87; Mahoning Township, $100,127.31; Nesquehoning Borough, $86,408.09; Packer Township, $22,043.69; Palmerton Borough, $100,975.58; Penn Forest Township, $636,277.61; Towamensing Township, $107,124.58; Parryville Borough, $7,433.58; Summit Hill Borough, $49,673.12; Weatherly, $37,918.96; and Weissport Borough, $1,525.00.

State proceeds

Gentile also remitted $5,199,542.80 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which included $4,775,448.05 in realty transfer taxes; $417,754.75 in JCS/Access to Justice Funds; $5,680.00 in writ taxes; and $660.00 in notary writ taxes.