This is very responsible technical and administrative work involving direction of the real and personal property assessment function for municipal tax purposes.

Work involves responsibility for the evaluation of real and personal property and for the preparation of the annual Grand List. Duties include field inspections, assessment policy recommendations, department planning and the direction and administration of department activities. This position also has the responsibility for making difficult property assessment technical decisions. The work requires that the employee have thorough knowledge, skill and ability in all phases of property assessment work.

Works under the general direction of the Finance Director and in accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes, rules and regulations pertaining to property assessments.
Supervises employees involved in the assessment processes and providing related services to the public.

In the Town of East Hartford, we don't merely accept diversity — we celebrate it, support it, and flourish because of it for the betterment of our employees, residents, and community partners. The Town of East Hartford takes pride in being an equal opportunity employer.

· Conducts field inspections of property. Measures structures or additions/improvements to existing structures. Reviews and updates field cards and related records. Calculates appraisal value.

· Plans, organizes and directs department operations. Assigns work and responsibilities to staff. Oversees and evaluates assessment activities such as discovery of taxable property, residential property valuation, determination of property ownership, elderly tax relief and other mandated programs, preparation of Grand List and periodic reevaluation studies.

· Analyzes and values residential, commercial and industrial property by computing replacement costs or analyzing financial statements. Reads and researches transfer deeds where land divisions are indicated and recalculates property values. Utilizes and maintains valuations data management systems.

· Responds to taxpayer request for a review of assessment where property has been damaged by fire and recalculates property values if warranted.

· Maintains sales library. Reviews actual sales of property within the municipality and ascertains if the transaction will be considered as arms length or usable sale by the State of Connecticut for determining the equalized Grand List. Computes sale-assessment statistics and determines the sales ratio.

· Directs the updating and maintenance of engineering maps and variety of assessment records.

· Formulates and implements department policies, work methods and procedures.

· Evaluates new methods and techniques of assessment.

· Advises appropriate municipal administration boards, commissions and departments on assessment matters.

· Participates in assessment appeals by property owners and defends the department’s findings. Provides testimony in litigation pertaining to assessments.

· Oversees the compilation of assessment data and the preparation of a variety of reports.

· Prepares the annual division budget, presents and defends budget requests.

· Controls the expenditure of fund allocation within constraints of approved budget.

· Participates in employee selection, training, counseling and discipline.

· Makes final determination regarding taxpayer eligibility for a variety of tax relief adjustment or abatement programs.

· Recommends selection of reevaluation organizations based on research of companies which have responded to the municipality’s requests for proposals. Provides input for the preparation of a contract with the organization selected.

• Thorough knowledge of property assessment principles and practices.
• Thorough knowledge of property assessment laws.
• Considerable knowledge of data processing technology as applied to a municipal assessment operation.
• Thorough ability in oral and written communication.
• Considerable ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, coworkers, subordinates, property owners and the general public.

Considerable ability to complete work within deadlines. 

A bachelor’s degree in business, accounting or public administration from an accredited college or university, plus five to seven years increasingly responsible experience in real and personal property assessment, including supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must have State of Connecticut certification as a Connecticut Municipal Assessor II and a valid Connecticut driver’s license.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Motor vehicle, computer, printer, calculator, tape measure, copier and fax machine.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to reach with hands, arms; stand; walk; and use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk and listen. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Employee must be able to read, analyze and interpret technical procedures and government regulations as they pertain to the assessment process and be able to effectively present information and respond to questions from realtors, attorneys and the general public. This position also requires the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions and deal with a variety of concrete variables.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The noise level in the work environment is moderately quiet in the office, and moderately loud in the field.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.