SANFORD - Seminole County’s court clerk’s office remains among the most profitable - and least expensive - in the state, according to a county-by-county comparison released this week by Clerk of the Circuit Court Maryanne Morse.
Her office ranked 15ths in raw dollars returned among Florida’s 48 fee-based clerks’ offices, and 23rd in percentage profit. But only tiny Desoto County (population 28,438) and Jackson County (population 49,469) and "big sister" Orange County (population 883,308) spent less per capita than did Mrs. Morse. In all, the Seminole County Clerk’s Office generated $465,215.09 in profits - or "excess fees" - in fiscal year 2000, on revenues of $8,787,092.16. The return on investment was 5.3 percent; per capita expenditures, $23.96.
The Desoto County Clerk’s Office led with the least: $17.85 per capita; Jackson County finished second, with $21.10. In contract, the Levy County Clerk’s Office was the most expensive in the state, with per capita expenses totaling $96.75.
The Desoto County Clerk’s Office led with the least: $17.85 per capita; Jackson County finished second, with $21.10 and Orange County third, with $21.90. In contrast, the Levy County Clerk’s Office was the most expensive in the state, with per capita expenses totaling $96.75.
By law, fee-based clerks’ offices are required to transfer any excess fees to the local boards of county commissioners at the end of each fiscal year. In 12 years in office, Mrs. Morse has generated $7,143,195.62 in profits.
Mrs. Morse noted that this year’s transfer came after her office had funded several six-figure hardware and software enhancements, including development of a first-in-the-state Web-based traffic program.
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