Assessment Specialist

JOB SPECIFICS

Provide customer service to residents, taxpayers and customers of Washington County by acting as a resource for assisting with homestead applications and administering special homestead programs. Responsible for managing data records and files and performs a variety of administrative duties related to property tax programs and property assessment related functions including advanced technical work requiring specialized knowledge, independent judgment and interpretation, and working with the Department of Revenue to ensure compliance. Interpreting County, state and federal rules, regulations, statutes and policies for customers. Successfully manage difficult or emotional customer situations.

• Experience with administrating property tax programs such as the Veterans with disabilities exclusion, Blind/Disabled program, maintaining State assessed values and manufactured home maintenance
• Experience providing effective, courteous, high-volume customer service to the general public, in person and over the phone
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)
• Paid experience interpreting County, State and Federal rules, regulations, statutes and policies for customers

JOB SUMMARY

The Assessment Specialist provides customer service, manages data records and files, and performs a variety of administrative duties related to property tax programs and property assessment related functions including advanced technical work requiring specialized knowledge, independent judgment and interpretation.

EMPLOYMENT CRITERIA

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Requires a high school diploma or equivalent and three years (3) years of technical expertise in assessment functions and customer service or equivalent education and experience. Licensure by the State Board of Assessors as a Certified Minnesota Assessor (CMA) is preferred.

CORE COMPETENCIES, JOB SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL JOB PERFORMANCE:
Core Competencies outlines essential business and professional, supervisory and leadership and work traits necessary to perform this job.

Uses technical and professional knowledge:

• Support and prioritize a welcoming and respectful workplace that fosters diversity and encourages contributions from all individuals.
• Provide inclusive and equitable service to all members of the community with dignity and respect.
• Demonstrate support for the County’s diversity, equity and inclusion program.
• Promotes a culture of continuous quality improvement in the workplace.
• Demonstrates knowledge of, or ability to learn, quality/continuous improvement.
• Demonstrates specialized knowledge of policies, regulations, statutes, procedures, forms, terminology, and practices associated with specialized property appraisal and classification programs.
• Understands the roles, responsibilities and interactions of County, State and Federal.
• Understands offices related to property records and assessment administration.
• Responds to requests from both County staff and taxpayers by sharing specialized property program classification expertise.
• Utilizes a variety of computer software programs including Computer Aided Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Respond to customer inquiries for various legal documents, related processes and services and acts as a resource to customers for various specialized programs.
• Search files to locate specific property information, such as property assessments, historical records information or legal documentation.
• Communicate with variety of individuals, municipalities, County, and State agencies.
• Perform advanced technical duties.
• Collect documentation and determine acceptability of applications for tax deferment for state mandated programs including the maintenance of parcel data.
• Under the direction of the County Assessor investigate property classifications, ownership and program eligibility.
• Review, analyze and verify records, reports, applications and other documents.
• Process and track completed legal documents.
• Generate queries and create reports upon request.
• Calculate tax abatement and Green Acre paybacks.
• Perform records maintenance.
• Research ownership and classification of exempt and tax forfeited land properties and process maintenance changes made by Assessor staff.
• Compile information needed for the Assessor staff to make valuation and classification decisions related to a split, plat or combination.
• Collaborate with multiple divisions and park managers to ensure accuracy of ownership and assessment data of manufactured home parcels and process maintenance changes made by Assessor staff.
• Create and maintain indices for property assessment classifications and programs.
• Assist in preparation for Local and County Boards of Appeal Equalization; maintain value and classification changes, proof for accuracy and ensure submission deadlines are met.
• Create, prepare, maintain and file records; update documents with submitted changes.
• Upon request perform special projects related to the organization of property records or improvements to processes.
• Responsible for maintaining and adhering to State statute and program deadlines.
• Perform administrative duties.
• Coordinate the workflow of activities necessary to complete documents, maintain records or generate reports with other divisions within the department.
• Process incoming and outgoing mail.
• Prepare correspondence, forms, statistical reports or queries and all other assessment related documents.
• Proofs for accuracy, identify and resolve discrepancies and/or make corrections.
• Resource to staff and provide training on new methods, processes and technologies related to specialized programs and the assessment process.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Essential functions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is sedentary in nature performed within the Government Center or satellite offices. Lifting requirement of 15 - 20 pounds on an occasional basis. Wrist and finger manipulation due to filing, compiling, calculating, or computer work. Equipment used may include, but is not limited to, computer, calculator, telephone, copier, microfiche, scanner and fax machine. Work interruptions are frequent. There is some pressure associated with dealing with individuals who may be emotionally charged and with project or activity deadlines and details.

Driving or riding to meetings, participate in or lead training sessions, etc. may be required. Must have own means of reliable transportation for business purposes; individuals operating a motor vehicle for county business must possess a valid driver's license.

Additional physical/mental requirements that may occur, may not be listed above, but are inherent performing the position's essential functions.

This job description is intended to describe the kinds of tasks and the level of work difficulty being performed by people assigned to this classification. The list of responsibilities is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required by personnel so classified. The County retains the discretion to add or change the contents of this job description at any time.