Valuation Specialist

Livingston County was named a 2024 Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press! Based solely on employee feedback, the Top Workplace title is a badge of honor for the County. With over 700 employees serving within 18 departments, 6 elected offices, and 3 Courts, Livingston County's top priority is providing effective and efficient services that improve the quality of life for all of our residents.

Position Summary:

Under the supervision of the Deputy Equalization Director, this position is responsible for appraising and determining the value of the most complex properties. This position performs field assessment of properties and assists in the development and compilation of data for tax appraisal. This position also performs other duties pertaining to data management and customer service.

Benefits:

• Retirement plan includes a 401a with up to 8% employer contribution
• Comprehensive Medical, Pharmacy, Dental & Vision
• Optional HSA with an employer match
• Optional Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation plan
• Short-term & Long-term disability & Basic Life & AD&D insurance
• Health & Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid vacation, sick days & 13 Holidays. Unused vacation and sick time rolls over
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Up to $500 annual Wellness reimbursement* & $100 incentive for completing your annual physical & Health Assessment.
• Voluntary benefits such as Pet Insurance, Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital & Whole Life policies
• Employee assistance program

*Pro-rated based on DOH

Pay Rate Information:

The Valuation Specialist role is a non-union position and starting pay is $75,953.65/yr. This position is eligible for step pay increases within our Non-Union Grade 10 Wage Scale. Top end of the current wage scale for this position is $96,232.96/yr.

Essential Job Functions:

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential functions. These examples do not include all of the duties, which the employee may be expected to perform. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

1. Appraises real estate and personal property for tax purposes, including the appraisals of residential, personal, agricultural, commercial, industrial, and developmental properties utilizing all three approaches to value, determines assessed value, capped value, and taxable value for residential, industrial, and personal property.
2. Analyzes and explains data analysis that underpin the determination of property valuations including standard deviation, coefficient of dispersion, and price related differential to assist local assessing units on correcting valuation biases and inaccuracies within the unit.
3. Values property. Prepares findings and defends valuations.
4. Conducts field inspections to verify sales and/or to measure residential, personal, agriculture, commercial, industrial, and developmental sites, structures, and property, and prepares valuation appraisals.
5. Verifies the accuracy of property descriptions including details on condition of structures, property improvements, current land use highest and best use.
6. Performs research on residential sales in the County to establish market value and to assist with developing department reports.
7. Assists local assessors and County personnel in the appraisal process for all classes of property; provides explanation and interpretation of operating manuals, procedures, maps, diagrams, and blueprints.; maintains pertinent documents to ensure that the department has ready access to pertinent appraisal data including State Tax Commission bulletins and memos and assessing reforms. Audits assessment rolls to maintain compliance with MCL 211.34 for the County Commissioners.
8. Assists department staff by developing special reports, relaying communications, and updating property valuation formulas.
9. Responds to citizen and professional appraiser questions and concerns regarding the valuation of property.
10. Keeps abreast of legislative and regulatory developments and current issues through continued education and professional growth. Attends conferences, workshops, and seminars as appropriate.
11. Performs other duties as directed.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Minimum Qualifications:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities and minimum qualifications necessary to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job.

Requirements include the following:

• Possession of a current Michigan Advanced Assessing Officer and Personal Property Examiner certificate (MAAO), an Associate degree in property appraisal or related field and three years of progressively more responsible experience as an appraiser. A Bachelor's degree is desirable.
• The County, at its discretion, may consider an alternative combination of formal education and work experience.
• Valid Michigan Vehicle Operator's License.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of appraising and valuing property.
• This includes the three approaches to value (cost, market, and income) as well as the ability to explain adjustments to the local units and State Tax Commission.
• Considerable knowledge of conducting complex property appraisals, assessing property market value, reading legal documents, maps, blueprints, and property descriptions, maintaining accurate records, State Tax Commission policies and procedures, and applying local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to read blueprints and sketch legal descriptions along with the ability to input the information in the Apex program. The ability to use Pivot Point while doing fieldwork.
• Ability to continuously learn, adapt, and stay up to date on laws, state mandates, and Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
• Ability to assess situations, solve problems, work effectively under stress, within deadlines, and in emergency situations. Ability to de-escalate situations involving upset taxpayers.
• The ability to stay up to date with the Audit of Minimum Assessing Requirements (AMAR) and helping the local units stay in compliance.
• Skill in assembling and analyzing data and preparing comprehensive and accurate reports.
• Skill in effectively communicating ideas and concepts orally and in writing.
• The ability to work in unsavory conditions, after a weather emergency, this department is part of the Emergency Response, which would develop figures for FEMA to help our residents with aid following a weather emergency.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and use good judgment, initiative and resourcefulness when dealing with County employees, contractors to the County, representatives of other governmental units, professional contacts, elected officials, and the public.
• Skill in the use of office equipment and technology, including Microsoft Suite applications and assigned software programs especially Excel and Word. Applications utilized by the Assessing Departments BS&A. the interaction between the CAMA standards and the State Tas Commissions MEG system. Ability to continuously learn, adapt, and stay up to date on software updates or new software and changing laws.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the 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 regularly works both in an office and in the field. While in the office, the employee is regularly required to communicate in person and by telephone, read regular and small print, view, and produce written and electronic documents and enter data on a computer keyboard with repetitive keystrokes. The employee must be mobile both in an office setting and in the field with the ability to stand, sit, stoop, and kneel, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must lift or push/pull objects of up to 25 lbs. without assistance. Accommodation will be made, as needed, for employees required to lift or move objects that exceed this weight.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works both indoors and outdoors and regularly travels between work sites using a motor vehicle. The noise level in the work environment varies from quiet to loud.

Salary : $500 - $96,233