PASSPORTS:

tions filed. The total so far for this current fiscal year (which doesn’t end until June 30) is 4,600 – already eclipsing the 2015-16 total of 4,531.

Johnston said the causes include demand for the document before the summer travel season, the lack of passport processing locations in the area and a backlog at other nearby locations.

Johnston has worked with Sutter County since 2008 and said there is usually an increase in applications just before the summer travel season.

The increased demand at Sutter County’s office is spurred somewhat by closures of other locations in the area. Both Yuba City and Marysville U.S. Post Office locations stopped processing passport applications in 2015. Rose GalloVasquez, Colusa County clerk-recorder, said her office also stopped processing passport applications due to cost. And Terry Hansen, clerkrecorder for Yuba County, said her offices stopped processing passports in January 2011. (Hansen said legislation passed by Congress in the wake of 9/11 mandated staff responsible for birth and death certificate applications could not process passports; and Yuba County did not have the resources to physically staff for the two separate services.)

Long wait times at other nearby offices also bring applicants to Sutter County.

An official with Placer County’s clerk-recorders office said they have appointments in place through July. The official said it has instructed some people to travel to Sutter County or the Tahoe region.

Unlike Placer County, Sutter County’s office does not require an appointment.

Butte County’s clerk’s office reported a similar increase in the demand for passports.

The Sutter County clerk’s office normally processes passports Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Johnston said if Saturday’s extended hours are successful, additional weekend hours may be scheduled.