Court clerk reimbursing Cobb County more than $83K in passport fees

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The superior court clerk who allegedly told an employee to “Donald Trump” a series of documents related to her retention of passport application fees has agreed to reimburse Cobb County more than $83,000.

On Tuesday, the Cobb County board of commissioners unanimously approved the reimbursement from Connie Taylor who, according to an Atlanta News First Investigation, pocketed more than $220,000 in 2021.

Georgia law allows court clerks to legally retain passport fees. But Taylor was also accused of collecting expedited shipping fees, which clerks are not allowed to keep, according to state law. A county review found she collected $46,411.30 in fiscal year 2021 and $37,247.60 in fiscal year 2022, Tuesday’s commission agenda item confirmed.

Her reimbursement check to the county equaled $83,658.90.

As Atlanta News First Investigates began digging, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) opened a probe related to allegations Taylor mishandled passport shipping fees.

The GBI investigation was opened after an employee of the clerk’s office, Maya Curry, alleged Taylor ordered her to destroy records related to Taylor’s retention of passport application fees. In Curry’s words, Taylor commanded her “to Donald Trump this thing.”

In a Nov. 17, 2022, letter, Curry’s attorneys allege Taylor “chastised” Curry for asking how she wished to allocate passport funds in an email. As Curry attempted to learn more about Taylor’s plans for the fees, Curry’s attorneys said Taylor stated the passport fees were “her money;” refused to provide any records related to her predecessor’s collection of passport fees; would tell reporters they did not have any related documents; and stated her office would “get rid” of related records, adding, “We’re just going to Donald Trump this thing.”

The GBI gave its case file to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office for prosecutorial review on March 14, 2024.

Taylor was reelected to her position in November 2024.

In Georgia, processing passports is an easy way for some elected superior court clerks to put thousands of dollars in fees into their own personal bank accounts.

Those applying for passports in Georgia are required to pay two fees. The application fee of $130 goes to the federal government. The processing fee is $35; that goes directly to the superior court clerk’s office, where they can do whatever they want with it, according to Georgia law.

A 2017 Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) survey found, 87 of Georgia’s 159 counties were currently processing passport applications. Of those, 54 court clerks or probate judges were keeping some or all of the passport processing fees as personal compensation.

Last year, lawmakers passed a bill sponsored by state Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta) that would, among other provisions, require superior court clerks to disclose the total amount of all passport application fees during each quarter.

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