Mission Statement

To fulfill the legally mandated functions of the Assessor-Recorder in an accurate, timely, and efficient manner.

Department Overview

The Assessor’s Office is responsible for locating, identifying, and valuing all taxable property in the County of Santa Cruz. The Assessor directs the performance and coordination of all assessment activities, maintains contacts with legislators and state regulatory bodies, and participates in the rule making, standards development, and legislative activities of the California Assessors' Association. The Assessor's Office is organized into two major program areas: valuation and administration.

The Recorder's Office maintains a perpetual record of real property transactions and vital statistics. Functions of the department include recording real property records such as deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, notices of completion, financing documents, maps, state and federal tax liens, and mechanics liens. Documents are indexed, scanned and microfilmed as a permanent record and stored in a temperature-controlled environment. The department collects recording fees, document transfer tax on transfers of real property and copy fees for providing copies of recorded documents. Records are open for public inspection and staff provides assistance to the public in searching recorded transactions.

Department Budget Overview

Budget Summary of Changes

The Assessor-Recorder budget recommends funding 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) Chief of Assessment Standards position to assist with the additional duties imposed upon the office as a result of the passing of Proposition 19 . It corrects the title of 1.0 FTE Chief Deputy Assessor-Valuation to be 1.0 FTE Chief Deputy of Administration.

The Recorder’s Office anticipates a reduction in revenue as a result of rising interest rates which decreases the number of refinance recordings. The department will be implementing a new Recorder software system and new Photostat scanning system, two projects which are necessary to comply with Assembly Bill (AB) 1466 and are being fully funded by restricted revenue funds, which can only be used for improvement and micrographic projects such as this.

In its operational objectives, the Assessor’s Office plans to increase awareness and utilization of the homeowners’ exemption, a property tax savings program, by mailing claim forms, in both Spanish and English, to all property owners who might qualify for the exemption but are not receiving it. Additionally, to ensure continuity of operations, the department will create written documentation of all critical tasks necessary to fulfill its mission. The Recorder’s Office will utilize the time saved by decreased recordings to scan and index historical Torrens Records, another prerequisite to complying with AB 1466.

Open the Services Overview or Operational Plan Objectives below for more details.

Total Expenses
$6,118,822
11%
1
Total Revenues
$3,557,001
3%
2
General Fund Contribution
$2,561,821
23%
3
Other Fund Contributions
$0
0%
3
Funded Staffing
29.00
1
4
Divisions
Services
Service Overview
Operational Plan Objectives
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Objective

Footnotes

1 – Indicates change from FY 2021-22 Allowed Budget

2 – General Fund Contribution is the share of General County Revenues (primarily property tax and other local taxes) allocated to each department. Other funds that contribute to this budget are shown on the Budget Details page.

3 – Indicates change from FY 2021-22 Adjusted Funded Positions (including Board-approved mid-year changes as of April 1, 2022).

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This service supports various department objectives