Agenda - 01-20-2000 - 8l - Laserfiche WebLink

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Orange County Board of Commissioners Action Agenda Item Abstract Meeting Date: January 18, 2000 Action Agenda Item No. ~..~ Subject: Establishment of Time Limited Tax Clerk Position Funded With Revaluation Funds Department: Tax Assessor and Personnel Public Hearing: Yes No X Budget Amendment Needed: Yes No X Attachment(s): Information Contact: John Smith, Tax Assessor None Extension 2101 Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director Extension 2550 Telephone Number: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 227-2031 Purpose: To consider establishing a new permanent full-time, time-limited Tax Clerk position with an ending date of December 31, 2001 to provide clerical and technical support to the 2001 revaluation process. Background: The Assessor's office is in the middle of the cyclical (every four years) process of reappraising all 45,000 plus properties in Orange County in preparation for the implementation of the countywide revaluation that takes effect on January 1, 2001. Counties are mandated by state statute to set funds aside every year for the implementation of revaluations. Also by statute, these funds remain in the Revaluation account and accumulate every year. Therefore, Revaluation has its own budget with very little being spent except in the year just before the revaluation becomes effective and then in the year of the revaluation (2000 and 2001). Typically, funds are spent the year prior, to cover the expenses of adding staffing to support current appraisal staff with their significantly increased responsibilities during revaluation years. Then in the year of the revaluation funds are spent on staffing needs related to providing excellent customer service, assisting citizens in getting answers to their revaluation questions, and in the process of hearing and reviewing appeals. The number of permanent positions in the Assessor's OfFce has declined from 19 in FY 1991-92 to 12 for FY 1999-2000, with resources allocated to other priorities, including 3 positions shifted during the past several years to the Revenue Department. However, with the increased workload in revaluation years, some staffing assistance of a fixed duration is needed with regard to revaluation efforts.