ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., December 26, 2024 — The St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller’s office celebrates a year of growth and impactful achievements in 2024, fulfilling more than 1,000 statutory duties directly benefiting residents.
“This year has been full of surprises, but our team rose to the occasion,” said John Rundgren, Clerk Designee. “While Clerk Patty served overseas with the Navy, our team remained dedicated to our mission—protecting taxpayer dollars and delivering exceptional customer service. I’m proud of our accomplishments and look forward to building on this success in the coming year.”
Key highlights include:
Expanding Services and Resources for Residents
- Customer Care Call Center: Launched on April 22 and staffed by five full-time clerks, the call center delivers live, timely, and knowledgeable assistance to residents. In 2024, clerks handled 62,986 calls, averaging 7,909 monthly calls.
- Family Law Workshop Series: In partnership with St. Johns County Legal Aid and the Law Office of Nancy Harrison, this monthly series provided residents with the resources and expert guidance needed to navigate complex family law matters.
- Passport Guide: Designed to provide clear, step-by-step instructions for residents inquiring about passport applications and renewals.
Enhancing Recording Services
- Recording Division: The division processed 12,478 passport applications, registered 12,148 residents for property fraud alerts, and performed 2,205 marriage ceremonies.
- Records Management Division: Dedicated to improving transparency and providing access to public records, the division responded to 1,242 public requests in 2024.
Supporting our Judicial Partners and Court Services
- Civil Division: Provided case management support for 4,995 small claim cases, 1,627 circuit civil cases, 1,554 county civil cases, 406 mental health cases, and 748 probate cases.
- Criminal Division: Processed 8,924 cases and entered 355 pieces of evidence, ensuring seamless judicial proceedings.
- Family Division: Provided case management support for 2,245 domestic relations cases, 458 Motions for Contempt, and 702 injunctions for protection. The division also introduced the Hope Card Program, which provides verification to law enforcement a victim is protected by a court order.
- Traffic Division: Processed 19,749 traffic citations, cleared 4,985 suspensions, and assisted 543 residents with reinstating their driver’s licenses.
Internal and External Functions in Supporting the Office Mission
- Communications Division: This division played a key role in expanding awareness of the Clerk’s Office’s mission, publishing 24 newsletters, issuing 26 press releases, engaging in 59 media interviews, and leading 11 community outreach presentations.
- Human Resources (HR) Division: Onboarded 23 new hires and managed benefits for 125 employees, supporting a well-engaged workforce.
- Information Technology (IT) Division: Resolved 4,330 support tickets and processed 1,090 registration agreements for Benchmark, providing residents with 24/7 access to court records.
- Support Services Division: Streamlined operations by fulfilling 204 work orders, providing refreshments to jurors, and onboarding seven new volunteer Clerk Ambassadors.
Ensuring Financial Accountability and Transparency
- Finance Division (COC and BCC): Managed over $31 million in investments and earnings, processed over 50,000 invoices, and oversaw payroll for 1,652 employees. The division also produced the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and the more accessible Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR).
- Minutes and Records Division: Recorded minutes for 26 Board of County Commission meetings, processed 875 petitions for property value assessments with the Value Adjustment Board (VAB), and facilitated the enactment of 61 ordinances and 574 resolutions—setting a new record.
- Office of Inspector General (OIG): Investigated 22 new fraud, waste, and abuse complaints, closed 27 cases, and trained 295 employees in 2024.
Internship Program Impact
- The 2024 Internship Program fostered innovation, with a notable contribution from a Florida State University (FSU) student. The intern proposed a policy change for injunction cases, amending the information sheet to include social media accounts, helping to prevent service evasion. This policy change was adopted by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office to streamline injunction proceedings.
As 2024 comes to a close, the St. Johns County Clerk’s Office reflects on a year of significant achievements, made possible by the dedication and hard work of our team. We remain committed to delivering exceptional service, driving innovation, and protecting the public’s trust.
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