Minutes 05-15-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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would make these services more accessible. Lastly, taxpayers currently can turn in their annual property tax listing form only in Hillsborough. With a Chapel Hill location, staff would be available not only to receive listing forms, but to explain and ensure all needed information is present. With our impending 2017 countywide revaluation, having real estate appraisers located in Chapel Hill will be incredibly useful. Considering this is a full list and measure revaluation, and that staff is leaving information postcards at each residence, having staff conveniently located to assist is crucial. Staffing Providing property tax assessment services in Chapel Hill will require reorganization of responsibilities and positions. Staffing for the Chapel Hill location, tentatively, will include: • One tax listing clerk—to support tax listing, personal property appraisal and tax assistance questions from residents. • One real property appraiser—to support real estate questions/appeals, and to save on transportation costs for an appraiser working the southern Orange County area. • One motor vehicle appraiser—to support vehicle tax appeals and questions. • One floating management position —to support difficult questions/situations and provide overall management for resident staff; rotating management positions will include: Tax Administrator, Deputy Tax Assessor, Personal Property Appraisal Manager, Chief Appraiser and Administrative Officer, each rotating one day per week. Office Space Four work stations at Town Hall would be needed for this arrangement. The four work stations would be occupied at all times unless one were to be out sick or on vacation. It also is recommended that the property tax assessment staff at Town Hall have access to a conference room as needed. Meetings occur often, and taxpayers sometimes request a private setting to discuss details of their situation confidentially. Such occurrences could be, and often are, impromptu in nature. As the tax office will be allocating only property tax assessment staff, and since the Town already carries out the property tax collection function, this proposal suggests that collection functions continue exclusively under the Town's direction at Town Hall. Only property tax assessment staff will be present at Town Hall and will not be able to assist in collection functions, i.e. receiving property tax payments. Of course, property tax assessment staff will be present to answer questions of taxpayers coming into the office, but these positions will be unable to assist in directly collecting revenue. SUMMARY Supplementing the current practice of property tax collection in Chapel Hill with property tax assessment services, we feel, will have a positive effect on intergovernmental relations. It co- locates departments that routinely work closely together and creates an environment that should improve accuracy in data transmittal and tax records. Additionally, it affords southern Orange County residents a convenient option of not only paying taxes, but to ask questions of the tax assessment process, annual forms to be filed and property tax assistance programs. This proposal would co-locate this service and would use existing staff. He said they would have three positions and one floating supervisor. The town would continue the tax collection service and the county would provide the rest