Agenda - 04-07-2015 - 4e - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

M Collaboration with Community A local government project that directly affects each resident as much as a countywide revaluation should have built -in education and collaboration efforts. The tax office realizes that completing this project accurately and successfully requires assistance from the public. Moreover, collaboration is the cornerstone of Orange County Government, and the tax office embraces that approach as well. We feel it is not enough for the public to hear about the 2017 revaluation only at the very end of the process through a notice of new value in early 2017. Therefore, at a minimum, we are taking the following measures to collaborate with the public: 1. Presentations to Chambers of Commerce, Friends of Downtown Chapel Hill, BOCC, etc. 2. Press releases through Orange County Public Affairs 3. Sales bank posted on tax office website 4. Summary descriptions mailed with 2016 tax listing forms 5. Revaluation education YouTube videos 6. Frequently asked questions brochure Revaluation Goals With any large project goals are established. As part of contingency planning, those goals must be prioritized as part of a larger strategic plan. The tax office has an opportunity to accomplish many goals with the 2017 revaluation, and a list of primary goals is provided below: 1. Update 2009 real property tax assessments to reflect market value as of January 1, 2017 a. Ensure accuracy of records through field visits, questionnaires, etc. b. Build community support through collaboration and education 2. Capture building use data, i.e. commercial, residential, industrial and their subcategories a. Will allow tax office to better assist Economic Development and Chambers of Commerce with studies and analyses 3. Review exempt properties in Orange County a. Currently approximately $713 of exempt property in Orange County b. Important for Asset Management Services, Risk Management and the State's annually- required AV -50 report To ensure the accuracy of tax records, a full list and measure revaluation should be undertaken every third to fourth revaluation, depending on the frequency of the county's revaluation cycle. With the advancement of technology, a full list and measure process will become more strategic. Appraisers will continue to have boots on the ground, but tools are becoming available to greatly improve accuracy and efficiency of the property taxation process. One such tool, for example, is through Pictometry. This company offers Sketch Check, a program that integrates recent aerial photos with a county's Geographic Information System (GIS) and county tax records to identify anomalies. While the tax office is not using this tool for the 2017 revaluation, it and similar technology will be considered for future revaluations and field work.