Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
DRAFT <br /> A potential conflict of interest was discussed regarding Analytical Consultants being the only <br /> Orange County based appraisal firm.This raised questions about how to ensure transparency and <br /> fairness when local firms are involved in county appraisal work. <br /> In-House vs. Commercial Appraisal Discussion <br /> Speaker: Clinton Swaringen,Tax Ad min istrator, Stan lyCounty <br /> Summary of Key Points: <br /> • Stanly County Overview <br /> County has 64,000 residents and 42,000 parcels, mostly single-family homes with a small <br /> commercial base and few apartments. <br /> • Revaluation History and Approach <br /> Past contracted revaluations(1993-2001)were considered unsuccessful, leading the <br /> county to move all revaluation work inhouse starting in 2005 with -long-term-staff. <br /> • Importance of In-House Appraisals <br /> Face-to-face appea-Is and familiar staff help build public trust, improve communication, <br /> and reduce conflict. <br /> • Commercial Appraisal and Appeals <br /> Stanly County had 142 commercial appeals in 2021, primarily from hotels and shopping <br /> centers, and early outreach to commercial owners reduced appeals to 62 for the 2025 <br /> revaluation. <br /> • Market Change and 2025 Revaluation Results <br /> Residential values increased an average of 42%, commercial values increased 22%,with <br /> significant variation across different areas of the county. <br /> • Section 42 Housing <br /> State mandated valuation methods keep Section 42 housing values lower and result in few <br /> appeals. <br /> • Staffing and Expertise <br /> The county relies on a DOR-certified inhouse commercial appraiser, which is more <br /> cost effective than hiring MAI level outside expertise. <br /> Additional Input from Durham County <br /> Keyar J. Doyle,Tax Administrator for Durham County, advised that the county prefers conducting <br /> revaluations in-house whenever resources allow because internal staff offer stronger commitment, <br /> continuity, and accountability.While external experts can be valuable when needed, inhouse is the <br /> ideal approach when staffing and workload make it feasible-.This applies to both commercial and <br /> residential revaluations. <br /> 3 <br />