Karen Yarbrough, Recorder of Deeds, touted the following accomplishments:
- Office’s budget has remained flat or dropped since she took office. The 2016 budget is lower than 2015 by $1 million. This was accomplished through staff and outside consultant reductions. Employees dropped from 190 to 171.
- Deeds can now be recorded electronically and title companies are being encouraged to sign up new homeowners for the County’s fraud detection program immediately at the closing table. Title insurance is only in place through the closing.
- The Fraud Detection Program is now the largest in the nation with 40,000 Cook County enrollees. The program hired a lawyer and works with the States Attorney’s office. Plans are to increase enrollment outreach as property fraud is a serious issue in the County.
The
main concern expressed by Ms. Yarbrough is the Integrated Property System
[IPS] technology recently passed by the Board which would include all county
government taxing bodies and the recorder of deeds. She pointed out that her office is responsible
for “recording” while the taxing bodies are responsible for “cashiering”. She is concerned about a one size fits all
approach that can lead to glitches and serious delays in recording deeds. She isn’t totally against the IPS – but is
skeptical.
Submitted by Diane Edmundson
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