Local Government Records Retention Schedule
Local Government Record Retention Schedules
Counties have historically been charged with managing many important records that impact the daily lives and well-being of their residents. Whether property records, leins on property, tax records, voter information, or
records of birth, marriage, and death they are all important to the individual and the county.
Managing these records is a vital responsibility of county government. Proper preservation of these documents is crucial; without it, the history of the county and its residents risks being lost, misplaced, or damaged. To effectively manage their records, counties need to establish and maintain an efficient record management system that allows them to identify, locate, and safeguard these important documents.
An effective records management plan demands significant education and effort. As the records custodian for the county, the county clerk is responsible for inventorying, organizing, maintaining, archiving, and disposing of records in accordance with the county'’s records retention schedule.
All local governments are required by state law to have an adopted records management plan which includes:
- The designation of a records manager to coordinate and perform the responsibilities of the plan
- An approved records retention schedule
- Provisions for the maintenance and security of the records
Most local governments have adopted the state-recommended records retention schedule for local governments. This schedule is reviewed every two years by the Georgia Archives Division and updated accordingly.
Visit the Georgia Archives website to access the local government records retention schedule database. This schedule outlines the retention periods for records generated by local governments, divided into two categories: common and specific. Common Record Categories encompass documents like budget and accounting records, applicable to any local government agency. The retention period listed applies to these records, regardless of the agency that created them. Specific Record Categories refer to documents, such as parking tickets, that are produced by a particular government agency and not by others.
For more information please visit: https://www.georgiaarchives.org/records/retention_schedules
Contact Carrie Edwards at McDuffie County Connect with Us if you have any questions or comments.
