ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
county
information storage fund
Purpose
Allows a county assessor’s property information storage and retrieval conversion and maintenance fund (fund) to be established, starting December 31, 2001, in counties with a population less than 500,000.
Background
Currently, Pima and Maricopa counties are the only counties using graphical information systems in their assessor’s offices. The system is used to complete land assessments, correct geographical date, determine the value of land, conduct sales analyses and calculate statistical data. Other, smaller counties have expressed interest in using this type of system, but lack adequate means to purchase it. This fund would finance the purchase of this type of system and allow assessor’s officers to update their technology.
There is no fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows a county assessor’s property information storage and retrieval conversion and maintenance fund to be established, starting December 31, 2001, in counties with less than 500,000 people.
2. Specifies that fund monies may only be used for the purchase of hardware and software, including a graphical information system, and employee training. Prohibits the use of fund monies for anything other than the acquisition of the county assessor’s automation system.
3. Allows a county board of supervisors to assess a special recording surcharge of no more than four dollars for each instrument, paper or notice filed with the county recorder, unless the document is exempted by law from recording fees or surcharges. Prohibits the special recording surcharge from being assessed for Arizona Health Care Containment System documents. Stipulates any resolution by the board of supervisors to implement fees must include:
a. A determination of the total amount of monies needed and a schedule of time required to implement hardware, software, graphical information systems and employee training.
b. An estimation of the annual fees that may be collected.
c. An automatic repeal of the authority to impose and collect fees when monies collected equal the total amount of needed monies as determined by the board of supervisors or the original time schedule is completed.
4. Requires the board of supervisors to administer the fund. Requires the board of supervisors to cooperate with the county assessor in order to spend fund monies to defray the cost of converting the county assessor’s property information storage and retrieval system to micrographics or computer animation.
5. Requires the county recorder to collect all monies for the fund. Requires all monies received to be transmitted to the county treasurer and deposited into the fund.
6. Requires the county general fund to reimburse the fund for all improper and inconsistent expenditures if determined to be so by the Auditor General.
7. Requires the county recorder to submit an annual report to the board of supervisors discussing the amount of projected revenues that will be raised for the fund. Stipulates that if projected revenues are considered insufficient to pay for conversion costs, fund monies may be accumulated until sufficient monies are available.
8. Repeals the fund and the authority of the board or supervisors to assess a recording surcharge after December 31, 2006.
9. Provides for a delayed effective date of December 31, 2001.
Amendments
Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Specified that the special recording surcharge may not be assessed for documents exempted by law from recording or surcharge fees.
2. Prohibits the special recording surcharge from being assessed for Arizona Health Care Cost
House Action Senate Action
CM 2/20/01 DPA 9-0-0-1-0 GOV 4/9/01 DP 4-1-1
3rd Read 3/15/01 53-0-7-0 3rd Read 4/23/01 17-10-2
Prepared by Senate Staff
April 27, 2001