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Riley County Clerk
What We Do
The Riley County Clerk, a four-year term elected position, is Rich Vargo.
Elections
The Clerk’s office is most known for conducting elections. To properly coordinate an election, two (2)as-needed, six (6) temporary and approximately 200 poll workers are hired. By State and Federal law, we are required to recruit, train and supervise all election workers. The election process consists of much more than just Election Day. We are required to:
- observe voter registration laws
- coordinate advance voting 20 days prior to an election
- comply with all State and Federal regulations on elections administration
- locate adequate polling locations which meet ADA requirements
Human Resources
Our internal customers, (our approximately 270 staff members in the other various county departments) are familiar with the services we provide to them directly. These services include:
- human resources management
- administration of employment benefits
- workers compensation benefits
- payroll
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
The Clerk’s Office is responsible for working with the Board of County Commissioners as the Clerk to the Board. This entails:
- preparation of agendas and minutes
- maintaining meeting schedules
- filing records for the Board
Our office works closely with the Board to develop and manage the annual budget and capital improvement plan, as well as administer the certification of the budget. Annually, in cooperation with the Board, the Clerk’s office administers the advisory board appointments and assists with special projects.
Tax Roll
What is the tax roll and how is the Clerk’s office involved? This role is one of the most commonly misunderstood responsibilities. The Clerk’s Office is responsible for the certification of the tax roll and tax unit maps for all public entities in the county. The real estate department of the Clerk’s office prepares the tax roll, which consists of:
- real estate
- personal property
- intangible taxes
- state and special assessments
The tax roll process consists of using the appraised values of all properties, as certified by the County Appraiser’s Office, and converting those into assessed values. Once assessed values are determined and the mill levy is established by our office, the tax roll is calculated. This process is how the tax on each property in Riley County is generated. In addition, our office is responsible for tax abatements and any adjustments to the established tax roll. Ultimately, the Treasurer’s Office creates and distributes tax statements, as well as collects all taxes annually.
Real Estate Records
The Clerk’s Office maintains records of real estate by address, legal description, and owner name. In addition, records of all real estate transfers of ownership are recorded, using various legal records such as deeds, probates, divorce decrees, and death certificates.
Additional Functions
Finally, some of the lesser-known functions of the Clerk’s office include, but are not limited to:
- assisting with the preparation of all township, cemetery, and special districts budgets and annual reports
- issuing moving permits
- transient merchant licenses
- pawnbrokers and precious metal dealers licenses
- pet licenses
- kennel licenses
- cereal malt beverage licenses
- issuing all Wildlife and Parks permits
- maintaining annual inventory records for the County
- administering and filing bonded indebtedness reports of all county tax entities
- liability/property insurance
- risk management
- maintaining duplicate ledgers to the County Treasurer
- serving as a central point of contact for the public
- administering the Armed Forces War Memorial Fund
- preparing agendas and minutes for the Department Head committee and the Budget and Planning Committee
- serving as a notary public
- balance and certify the distribution of motor vehicle taxes to the County Treasurer