The Forrest County Chancery Clerk is Jimmy C. Havard The Chancery Clerk has five major responsibilities: Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Clerk for the Chancery Court County Recorder County Treasurer County Auditor State law prescribes that the chancery clerk record and preserve all land records recordable in the county. Such records include deeds of trusts, mortgages, mineral leases, and plats of land surveys. The instruments and records filed within the clerks office must include a detailed fee bill of all charges due or paid for filing and recording. 263 – The clerk or deputy clerk is required to give a receipt for every written instrument filed within the office of the chancery clerk. 264 – The clerk or deputy clerk also receives all bills, petitions, motions, accounts, inventories, and other papers and reports on behalf of the county. 265 – All records and papers of the chancery clerk’s office are subject to inspection and examination by citizens. The clerk or deputy should show any person inquiring about records where they are located, allow access, or make a copy if requested. 266 – Article 6, 170 of the Mississippi Constitution requires that the clerk of the chancery court also serve as clerk for the board of supervisors. The clerk of the board of supervisors has several duties prescribed by law. The clerk or the deputy is responsible for attending all meetings of board of supervisor and recording the minutes of the board. 267 – This is an important responsibility because the board may act only through the recorded minutes. The clerk is also responsible for preparing the “docket of claims,” as well as assisting in the preparation of the annual budget. The claims docket is a list of all claims or financial demands against the county in the order in which they are received. 268 – The chancery clerk is responsible for keeping a set of books known as the uniform system of accounts for the county which are prescribed by the state auditor. These books contain all accounts under headings, so the expenditures under each heading can be known. The chancery clerk is responsible for entering all receipts and expenditures into the system of accounts and balancing the ledgers monthly. This ensures that all information needed for budget review is easily accessible. 269 – The clerk submits to the board each month a report showing all expenditures and liabilities incurred against each separate budget item during the month and, cumulatively, the fiscal year to date. 270 – The chancery clerk is also responsible for submitting a certified copy of the tax levy for the upcoming year. This is to show the purpose of the taxes levied and the total tax levy for each separate taxing area in the county, including the state ad valorem tax levy. 271 – When the board of supervisors passes a resolution to issue a bond, it is the responsibility of the chancery clerk to submit a certified copy of the resolution to the state treasurer. The copy indicates the scheduled principal and interest payments and the dates on which they are due. 272 – The clerk is also responsible for filing statements of all bond issues with the state auditor. 273 – Before entering office, the chancery clerk is required to take the oath of office and give bond. Bond is payable in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the sum of all state and county taxes shown by the assessment rolls for the year immediately preceding the commencement of the term of office. However, the bond should not exceed $100,000.00. The chancery clerk may be required to give additional bond for faithful application of moneys coming into his hands by order of the chancellor. The original bond is held to cover all official acts of the chancery clerk. 274 – Compensation for the chancery clerk is determined by various filing fees collected for services provided by the chancery clerk’s office. Total compensation for the chancery clerk cannot exceed $83,160.00.
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