A fee-based public official is an individual who receives and retains remuneration
directly from the public. An individual who receives payment for services from government
funds in the form of a wage or salary is not a fee-based public official, even if
the compensation is called a fee.
Examples of fee-based public officials would be county clerks or recorders who receive a fee directly from the public for each document filed or recorded, or a notary public who received a fee for each oath administered or each acknowledgement witnessed.