HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission meets on Tuesday with a fairly light agenda. There are only two items up for discussion, including the latest on the Mortgage Registration Tax and Recording Fees. Also expected is a report from County Counselor Joe O’Sullivan over the Oct. 1 real estate tax sale which was held at Memorial Hall last week.
So far the county is ahead of last year with the Mortgage Registration Tax and Recording Fees by just over $118,000. Last year at this time the county had collected a total of $577,349. This year so far, they’ve collected $695,539.
However, in September, the county collected $830 less than the previous month. They collected $11,243 in September compared to $12,073 in August. That is the registration fee. The Mortgage Tax Fee was $46,440.53 which is more then the $43,159.95 which was colllected in August.
The legislature passed a law this year that will eventually eliminate this tax and fee which means the county will eventually lose this revenue source. The legislation partially offsets the lost revenue by increasing the per-page filing fee with the recorder of deeds, but won’t cover the loss to Reno County.
The mortgage fee repeal was pushed by the Kansas Association of Realtors and the Kansas Bankers Association. Both said mortgage fees unfairly tax people who borrow money to buy property.
The meeting of the Reno County Commission begins at 9 a.m. at the Reno County Courthouse.