2017-10-23 Budget mtg - Assessor for 2018 -Meeting with Budget – Assessor’s Office
October 23, 2017
4:04 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Becky Butler, Steve
Walton, Dianne Dorey, Marci Miess
Guests: Linda Williams, Matt Brock, Bill Marshall, Justyna Tomtas
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Dianne Dorey said she would like to hire a commercial appraiser trainee who could do residential
appraisals as well.
She said she has had two appraisers and her chief appraiser out due to surgery.
Dianne said a trainee could help catch new construction on Pictometry.
Dianne and Marci Miess said all positions are filled but that three positions are held by trainees who
cannot yet work fully unsupervised because they are not yet accredited.
Dianne discussed the accreditation required to become a commercial appraiser.
Dianne said the commercial appraisals are the hardest and most beneficial appraisals to the county.
Dianne said Pat Woody averages 1,900 physical commercial appraisal inspections annually.
Commissioner Stamper asked if anything ever was missed and therefore cost the county. Dianne said
nothing has been missed but has been late.
Commissioner Stamper asked if the work could be contracted out. Dianne said it could but that the costs
would be very high.
Becky Butler asked for clarification regarding whether anything was ever missed. Dianne said new
construction sometimes is delayed or skipped.
Becky said the board’s previous offer was to change a lower level position to a commercial appraiser
position rather than adding a new position.
Becky asked if the position could be a half-time or three-quarter time position. Dianne said time
constraints would not allow that.
Dianne said in 1998, the Assessor’s Office had 28 positions and today it has 18.
Dianne said hiring a retiree would not work because retirees lose their accreditation. She discussed the
differences between fee appraisers, which must be licensed, and county appraisers, which must be
accredited.
Dianne and Marci discussed how many positions are filled by new personnel.
Becky asked what the cost difference would be if a position was promoted rather than hire someone
who already has undergone the required training.
Marci said the Assessor’s Office is trying to create a contingency plan.
Commissioner Fund discussed the findings of the Department of Revenue’s audit of the Assessor’s
Office.
Dianne discussed the traits and qualities she looks for in potential appraiser trainees.
Commissioner Stamper asked if Dianne and Marci could work with Becky to identify options for the
positions. Dianne said she sees three options: Option A: Hire someone who already has the training.
Option B: Promote within. Option C: Hire someone and train them through the whole process.
Linda Williams asked if the ability to pick up new construction would offset the cost of the position.
Dianne said it would be hard to tell but that more new construction likely could be picked up.
Meeting adjourned at 4:51 p.m.