City Wins 2011 International Institute of Municipal Clerks' Excellence in Governance Award
City Clerk Rodney Greene was presented with the 2011 International Institute of Municipal Clerks’ (IIMC) Excellence in Governance Award recently at the 65th Conference that was held in Nashville, Tennessee for an innovation in how the city issues Real Estate Transfer Tax stamps.
In 1986, the City of Evanston enacted a Real Estate Transfer Tax (Ord. 33-O-86) on the transfer of real property. The City Clerk’s office collects the tax and issues exemptions from the tax. It is paid by the seller, unless other arrangements have been made by contract. Revenue from this tax goes into the City's General Fund.
Previously, RETT forms had to be filled out in person at the City Clerk’s Office. Additionally, the city used to contract out to a firm in the Loop that would serve as an agent of the City of Evanston is issuing the RETTs as many Evanston property transactions take place in Chicago. The use of such an agent was beneficial to the seller as they would not have to show up in person at the City Clerk’s Office in Evanston.
Due to budgetary concerns, Clerk Greene was unable to continue to contract out this service. Clerk Greene decided if the city could not hire an agent to perform this task for Loop customers, he would develop a RETT form online in order that all customers who were outside of the Evanston jurisdiction could simply download the form and remit it via mail. This effort has saved time and postage from both the Evanston Clerk’s Office and the customers outside of Evanston. A vast number of Illinois communities still require property sellers to apply for their RETTs in person.
This project was submitted to the 65th Annual IIMC for consideration in improving customer service and during the 65th Conference that was held in Nashville, Clerk Rodney Greene was awarded the IIMC 2011 Excellence in Governance Award for the City of Evanston. The application was submitted by Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl with letters of support from Ninth Ward Alderman Coleen Burrus and Judge Lionel Jean-Baptiste.