(a) Beginning May 18, 2017, a special recording fee of five dollars ($5) shall be collected by the Judge of Probate of Baldwin County, with respect to each real property instrument and each personal property instrument that may be filed for record in the office of the judge of probate and for the recording of other instruments and documents in the office of the judge of probate in the discretion of the county commission. No instrument shall be received for record in the office of the judge of probate unless the special recording fee of five dollars ($5) is paid. The special recording fee shall be in addition to all other fees, taxes, and other charges required by law to be paid upon the filing for record of any real property instrument or personal property instrument, and for the recording of other instruments and documents in the office of the judge of probate in the discretion of the Baldwin County Commission.
(b) The special recording fee of five dollars ($5) as provided for by subsection (a) shall be deposited by the judge of probate into the treasury of Baldwin County and kept in a special fund to the credit of the judge of probate. Monies from the special fund shall be expended at the discretion of the judge of probate for microfilming recorded documents and placing recorded documents on an electronic database including the Internet.