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ORD- 2013 -030 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 5, 2013 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 5 -q <br />SUBJECT: FY 2013 -14 Budget Amendment #1 -D —Approval of Two (2.0 FTE) New <br />Appraiser I Positions within the Revaluation Fund <br />DEPARTMENT: Tax Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Dwane Brinson, Tax Administrator, <br />(919) 245 -2726 <br />1 <br />PURPOSE: To consider approval of Budget Amendment #1 -D by approving two (2.0 FTE) <br />additional Appraiser I positions within the Revaluation Fund as part of the cyclical North <br />Carolina revaluation process, and an appropriation from the Revaluation Fund's Unassigned <br />Fund Balance to cover the FY 2013 -14 costs. <br />BACKGROUND: At its May 7, 2013 regular meeting, the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners approved a resolution delaying the next countywide revaluation until January 1, <br />2017. Discussion centered on a number of considerations, two main ones being (1) the <br />improving economy and (2) a need for a full list and measure revaluation. The County has <br />been decades without a full list and measure revaluation, and completing this process will help <br />ensure tax records are accurate. The industry average of those counties performing an in- <br />house revaluation is 8,000 — 10,000 parcels per appraiser. Orange County has slightly more <br />than 54,000 parcels and currently four appraisers. Raising that total to six appraisers brings <br />staff levels to 9,000 parcels per appraiser. <br />An effective hire date of October 1, 2013 is proposed as a full list and measure revaluation <br />takes considerable time and effort. A number of internal processes and decisions need to be <br />discussed and redefined should these additional positions be established. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: As the 2015 revaluation was formally delayed prior to budget finalization, <br />the Tax Administrator was able to significantly reduce costs accordingly. The annual cost, <br />including salary, benefits and operating expenses, of these additional positions is estimated to <br />be $110,760. Also, additional one -time startup costs, including office furnishings, laptops and <br />software associated with the positions are estimated at $7,230. However, given the proposed <br />effective start date of October 1, 2013 for these positions, the fiscal year 2013 -14 financial <br />impact is estimated at $90,720. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve Budget <br />Amendment #1 -D by approving these two new (2.0 FTE) Appraiser I positions within the <br />Revaluation Fund, and approve an appropriation of $90,270 from the Revaluation Fund's <br />Unassigned Fund Balance to cover the costs of the positions for FY 2013 -14. <br />