County GIS seeks more revenue

knox county sealKnox County’s Geographic Information System is doing its part to combat the county’s general fund deficit.

GIS Coordinator Bill Lotz last night told a county committee made up of heads from the Nursing Home, Assessor, Zoning, Highway and Recorder offices that a request for more revenue would not only solve funding problems the GIS faces, but also free up general fund money.

The GIS, which pays for aerial mapping of Knox County every five years, is funded by the number of recorded documents that pass through the Recorder’s Office. Currently, the Recorder’s Office charges a $10 fee per document, $9 of which goes directly to the GIS.

In light of a decline in the number of documents passing through the office and increases in software costs, Lotz suggested doubling the fee per document.

He said it was time for an increase anyway.

“All I can really look at, I believe, is the money we’re spending and the money we’re bringing in and try to have the fee balance out.” Lotz said. “We can’t just raise it up to whatever we want to. We haven’t raised it for 12 years from when it was originally raised.”

He further said the increased revenue could pay for half his benefits and half the benefits of the county mapper in the Assessment Office — their benefits are currently paid for entirely through the general fund.

Lotz’s requests will be brought before the full County Board on Oct. 28.

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