COUNTY CLERK CHALLENGES FEE INCREASE

            (Mineola, NY)  Nassau County Clerk Maureen O’Connell spoke before the Nassau Legislature today in opposition to the fee increases they passed for services rendered by the Clerk’s Office.  County Clerk O’Connell stated these fee increases were never requested by the Clerk’s office and were passed without any inquiry by the legislators to her office.  She further stated the legislature’s failure to seek any input reflects their passage of this legislation lacked adequate analysis of its impact.

            The Clerk recommended the legislature amend the ordinance to protect the most vulnerable of residents including new home buyers, homeowners who were victims of predatory loan practices now trying to save their homes by refinancing to avoid foreclosure, and residents facing foreclosure actions who will be subject to increased fees for their recordings.  The Clerk pointed out that there has been an alarming increase in the number of foreclosure related filings.

            The County Legislature has stated that these fee increases will result in $7 million dollars in additional revenue to the financial challenged County.  The Clerk asserted that this additional revenue comes at the expense of the already highly taxed residents of Nassau County, many of whom are trying to avert foreclosure.