Voters to Decide Future of McLean County Recorder Office
By: Jacob Long, WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: October 23, 2012
BLOOMINGTON - Voters in McLean County have the chance to save thousands of dollars.
A referendum on the November ballot asks if the Recorder of Deeds office should be eliminated effective December 31, 2013.
In reality, the office itself would not be eliminated.
Instead, the functions of the office and most of its workers would transition into the McLean County Clerk's office.
The election position of a Recorder of Deeds, which is currently held by Republican Lee Newcom, would be eliminated.
County leaders have said previously the referendum, if passed, would save taxpayers between $40,000 and $100,000 annually.
The savings would come from Newcom's current salary of around $90,000 and other administrative costs.
Newcom has said previously he is against the referendum and believes the office needs to stand alone.
But county board members voted overwhelmingly to put the item on the ballot in an effort to save money and streamline services.
Clerk Kathy Michael said Tuesday her office is not particularly looking forward to the possibility of having to do more work.
However, Michael said her staff is up to the task and would not let the recorder's duties suffer.
"The fact that we would have a year's transition period would be very helpful. I think it can be done. In any office, when you have to cut and you have to combine, you do it," she said.
Nearly 90 of Illinois' 102 counties have combined clerk and recorder offices.
Michael said she would cross train staff to do multiple jobs, if the referendum passes.
A referendum on the November ballot asks if the Recorder of Deeds office should be eliminated effective December 31, 2013.
In reality, the office itself would not be eliminated.
Instead, the functions of the office and most of its workers would transition into the McLean County Clerk's office.
The election position of a Recorder of Deeds, which is currently held by Republican Lee Newcom, would be eliminated.
County leaders have said previously the referendum, if passed, would save taxpayers between $40,000 and $100,000 annually.
The savings would come from Newcom's current salary of around $90,000 and other administrative costs.
Newcom has said previously he is against the referendum and believes the office needs to stand alone.
But county board members voted overwhelmingly to put the item on the ballot in an effort to save money and streamline services.
Clerk Kathy Michael said Tuesday her office is not particularly looking forward to the possibility of having to do more work.
However, Michael said her staff is up to the task and would not let the recorder's duties suffer.
"The fact that we would have a year's transition period would be very helpful. I think it can be done. In any office, when you have to cut and you have to combine, you do it," she said.
Nearly 90 of Illinois' 102 counties have combined clerk and recorder offices.
Michael said she would cross train staff to do multiple jobs, if the referendum passes.
