DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:  This is professional and administrative work involving responsibility for providing accurate, timely information and advice on real property appraisal, equalization and assessment. Work is performed under general supervision of the County Executive and is subject to general review by the State Board of Real Property Tax Services (formerly the State Board of Equalization and Assessment) in accordance with Real Property Law, Article 15A, Section 1530. Supervision is exercised over the work of appraisal and clerical staff. Performs related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Establishes and maintains a comprehensive real property tax service program to assist in the development of equitable assessment practices;
• Maintains a variety of records and statistical data for control and reporting purposes;
• Directs and trains the field and office property appraisal staff;
• Assists assessors on unique valuation problems.

SERVICES TO COUNTY (STATUTORY):

• Provides pertinent data to County equalization agency;
• Coordinates a county‑wide revaluation program;
• Prepares annual and special reports as required by the county legislature and State Board of Real Property Tax Services.

SERVICES TO CITY AND TOWNS (STATUTORY):

• Prepares tax maps and keeps them current and provides copies to assessors;
• Provides advisory appraisals on moderately complex taxable properties, upon request of appropriate authority;
• Advises assessors on preparation and maintenance of assessment rolls, property record cards and other records necessary to professional real property assessment and taxation;
• Provides appraisal cards in forms and quantity prescribed by the State Board of Equalization and Assessment;
• Cooperates and assists in State Board of Real Property Tax Services training programs.

WHEN AUTHORIZED BY COUNTY LEGISLATURE:

• May assist in the sale of real property acquired by tax sales;
• Performs recording officer duties in relation to reports of transfers of real property.

Typical Work Activities are intended only as illustrations of possible types of work that might be appropriately assigned to an incumbent of this title. Work activities that do not appear above are not excluded as appropriate work assignments, as long as they can be reasonably understood to be within the logical limits of the job.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Good knowledge of modern principles, practices and theory of real property valuation and assessment; good knowledge of residential and commercial building construction methods, materials and costs; good knowledge of real property tax laws and judicial and administrative determinations governing valuation of real property; working knowledge of deeds and related property records and ability to understand their relation to valuation processes; good knowledge of office and staff management; ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with the public, assessors and county officials; ability to effectively utilize and explain the use of tax maps and other valuation tools; integrity; tact; courtesy; good judgment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: *      Either

1. Bachelor’s degree and six (6) years of satisfactory full-time paid experience in an occupation providing a good knowledge of real property values and the principles, methods and procedures required for the assessment of real property for tax purposes, such as assessor, principal in an appraisal firm, director of a mass appraisal project, administrative position in the office of real property tax services or real property tax As part of the foregoing work experience or in connection with any other work experience, candidates must have had at least three years of full-time paid administrative experience involving the responsibility of planning, organizing and directing a work program; or
2. Associate’s degree and seven (7) years of the experience described above; or
3. Graduation from high school, or possession of an accredited high school equivalency diploma; and eight (8) years of the experience described above; or
4. An equivalent combination of the education and experience described above

PLEASE NOTE: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.

SUBSTITUTION NOTES:

1. One (1) year of graduate study may be substituted for one (1) year of the foregoing experience. No more than two (2) years of graduate study may be applied as a substitute for the foregoing experience; and
2. In no case shall less than four (4) years of experience in an occupation providing a good knowledge of real property values and the principles, methods and procedures required for the assessment of real property tax purposes be acceptable.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Completion of basic course(s) of training as prescribed by the State Office of Real Property Tax Services (formerly State Board of Equalization and Assessment) within one (1) year of appointment.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: The holder of this position must be a resident of New York State and maintain residency for the duration of employment, pursuant to the NYS Real Property Tax Law Article 15-A, Title I, Section 1530.

*Minimum requirements established by New York State Office of Real Property Tax Services (formerly State Board of Equalization and Assessment); amended 02/25/09 to conform to changes to Part 188-4 of the New York State Real Property Tax Services Rules, effective October 1, 2013.

9/83; 6/06; 7/09; 10/18; 11/21; 10/24

Non-Competitive Class