HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 Assessor update for 2017AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
WORK SESSION DATE: May 16, 2017
AGENDA ITEM TITLE: Assessor update
STAFF RESPONSIBLE: Tom Isaac, Larry Fite
ISSUE STATEMENT: This is an annual office update for the Assessor's office.
BACKGROUND: In the past, the Board of County Commissioners' contact with the
various departments was limited to the presentations made during the budgetary process. By
making semi-annual presentations, the Commissioners will be able to be better informed as
to the goings on in the various departments.
KEY DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Current Status:
• The 2017 reappraisal has been completed, and the first round of appeals are underway
in the Assessor's office. The first round of appeals concludes on June 1st with the
second round appeals (County Board of Equalization) commencing mid -July and
ending on August 7th. The third round of appeals typically start in the fall and can
run through the next 6-8 months, mostly due to scheduling at the state level of appeal.
• For the first time in several valuation cycles, the residential assessment rate is being
revised on a state wide basis from the former 7.96% rate to the new 7.2% rate. What
this means on an individual property basis is that 9.5% of a residential property
valuation increase is offset by the change in the assessment rate. From a macro
perspective, taxing authorities will need to be aware of the change as it has the
potential to affect the budgetary process, particularly for smaller taxing entities. The
assessment rate for vacant land and commercial properties remains unchanged at
29%.
• The appraisal staff did a great job of completing last summer's new construction
inspections while at the same time completing the bi-annual reappraisal. The Admin
staff has also done a good job of keeping up with all of the record changes pertaining
to property sales, new property developments, etc.
• Our personal property appraiser is currently working on completing all of the
personal property data entry with Notices of Value to be mailed out on June 15th. She
(Deb Bamesberger) did a good job of identifying those residential property owners
renting their properties online (VRBO, Home Away, etc.) and adding the personal
property to the tax roll.
Moving forward:
• Our most pressing concern at the moment is the property valuation appeal process.
We expect a "typical" appeal period in terms of volume with about 10-15% of the
15,000 properties being appealed. The biggest characteristic of this reappraisal cycle
is the lack of uniformity. The changes in value are very much location/neighborhood
specific.
• With the exception of the appeal period, the Assessor's office is looking at a pretty
quiet year from a budgetary standpoint. There are no staffing changes in terms of
additions/deletions and no other major budgetary line items other than the routine
expenses for payroll, office expenses, education, etc.
• New construction continues to be very busy for both new projects as well as
renovations and additions. There are several large projects that are under way and
new ones getting ready to start (the Sky Hotel and Hotel Jerome being two).
Ongoing:
• The Assessor's office maintains the tax roll data base on an ongoing basis by keeping
up with new deeds/ownership transfers, creating new accounts for lot splits,
condominiums, subdivisions, etc. Based on anecdotal reports from local realtors, the
sale volume thus far for 2017 is well up from the levels seen in 2016 for the same
time period. This is true for both the number of sales as well as sale prices. As such,
we will be busy with both the record changes as well as on site sale inspections.
• Following the completion of the County Board of Equalization appeal period, the
Assessor's office produces an Abstract and Certification with the final values for each
taxing entity. Once these values have been set, the taxing entities have the basis for
establishing their budgets/mill levies going forward. The final tax roll is certified by
the County Commissioners in December.
• The staff also prepares reports for taxpayers to be used for mailing lists, data
summaries for other departments, and in general serves the public with their various
property taxation and valuation needs.
BUDGETARY IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDED BOCC ACTION: None
ATTACHMENTS: None