Agenda - 06-07-2011 - 4b - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 7, 2011 Action Agenda Item No. ~- SUBJECT: Appointment of Tax Administrator DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 1) February 15, 2011 Approved INFORMATION CONTACT: Resolution Frank W. Clifton, County Manager, 245-2306 2) Draft June 7, 2011 Resolution John Roberts, County Attorney, 245-2318 PURPOSE: To approve a resolution appointing Jenkins Crayton to a two-year term as Orange County Tax Assessor and Orange County Tax Collector under the title of Orange County Tax Administrator, beginning July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013. BACKGROUND: In late 2009, the Board of County Commissioners charged the County Manager with reviewing the functions of tax assessment and collections and increasing efficiencies in these areas without adding costs. On December 31, 2009, Mr. John Smith retired as Tax Assessor after serving the County for 24 years and the Revenue and Tax Assessor departments were consolidated to form the Tax Administration Department. Ms. Jo Roberson, previously serving as Revenue Director, was reclassified and appointed by the Board of County Commissioners as Tax Administrator for a term to expire June 30, 2011. In August 2010, Ms. Roberson announced her plans to retire during the first half of 2011. At the Board's direction, the County Manager and staff initiated a recruitment and selection process to identify a recommended candidate for appointment by the Board as Tax Administrator upon Ms Roberson's retirement. The Board subsequently by resolution (Attachment 1) appointed Jenkins Crayton as Orange County Tax Assessor for the balance of Ms. Roberson's unexpired term beginning March 1, 2011 and ending on June 30, 2011, and as Orange County Tax Collector for the balance of the unexpired term beginning March 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2011, with such appointments to be served under the title Orange County Tax Administrator. Sections 105-294 and 105-349 of the North Carolina General Statutes provide that the board of county commissioners shall appoint a county assessor and a tax collector. The statutes do not specify length of term for a tax collector but require the county assessor be appointed to a term of not less than two nor more than four years. Whenever a vacancy occurs in either office, the board of county commissioners shall appoint a qualified person to serve as county assessor or tax collector for the period of the unexpired term. The statutes also provide that the offices of county assessor and tax collector are offices that may be held concurrently with another appointive or elective office.