Appraiser I/II/III

Examples of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Conduct investigations, inspections and interviews; analyze data in determining the value of land, orchards and vineyards, buildings and other structures.
  
• Estimates replacement cost, obsolescence, construction cost, market value, and other pertinent factors, obtaining information from interviews with owners, contractors, real estate agents, and others.
  
• Prepares scale drawings of the location of buildings and improvements in relation to property lines.
  
• Explains assessment procedures and determinations to taxpayers.
  
• Reviews properties for special exemptions and insures proper valuation of claims.
  
• Assists in the training and orientation of new appraisers.
  
• In commercial property appraisals devises capitalization rate on projected income.
  
• May present department's case in taxpayer protest hearings.

Minimum Qualifications

Appraiser I

Experience:
None required.

Education:
Equivalent to graduation from a four (4) year college or university preferably in accounting, business administration, economics, agriculture or civil engineering. Equivalent experience in accounting, auditing, appraising or building cost estimating may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Licenses:
Eligibility for either temporary or permanent certification as an appraiser by the California State Board of Equalization. If a temporary certification is used to meet this requirement, the employee must acquire permanent certification within one year from date of appointment to this class.

Appraiser II

Experience:

One (1) year of responsible professional level property appraisal work for tax assessment, purchase, or loan extension purposes.

Education:

Equivalent to college graduation preferably in accounting, business administration, economics, agriculture or civil engineering. Equivalent experience in accounting, auditing, appraising or building cost estimating may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Licenses:

Possession of permanent certification as an Appraiser by the California State Board of Equalization.

Appraiser III

Experience:

Three (3) years of responsible professional level property appraisal work for tax assessment, purchase, or loan extension purposes.

Education:

Equivalent to college graduation preferably in accounting, business administration, economics, agriculture or civil engineering. Equivalent experience in accounting, auditing, appraising, and building cost estimating, or engineering may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Licenses:

Possession of permanent certification as an Auditor-Appraiser/Appraiser by the California State Board of Equalization.

Appraiser I/II/III:
Possess a valid California driver's license at time of appointment and maintain.

Essential Functions

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Operate a personal computer and other office equipment.
  
• Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.
  
• Analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations, and develop appropriate responses.
  
• Perform job duties under stressful conditions and respond appropriately to situations.
  
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.
  
• Conduct inspections over uneven surfaces under various environmental conditions.
  
• Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.
  
• Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.
  
• Kneel, bend, twist, squat, balance and crawl.
  
• Frequent use of hand-eye coordination.
  
• Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.
  
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
  
Normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.

Regular attendance is an essential function.

• Tax laws relating to assessment of real property.
  
• Basic principles of land economics.
  
• General knowledge of principles involved in property appraisal.
  
• Factors, techniques, methods, and principles involved in the appraisal of real property.
  
• Methods of determining property value.
  
• Laws and regulations affecting the appraisal of real property, including pertinent principles and guidelines contained in the State Constitution, and Revenue and Taxation Code.
  
• Building materials, equipment, fixtures, workmanship, and construction quality and quantities, as applied to all classes of buildings.
  
• Factors affecting building and equipment depreciation and obsolescence.
  
• Sources of information concerning property values.
  
• Regulations and court decisions affecting tax appraisal.
  
• Orchard trees and vines. (For rural appraisals.)
  
• Dairy ranches and equipment. (For rural appraisals.)

• Learn and apply the techniques, methods, and principles of real property appraisal.
  
• Assemble and analyze statistical and narrative information.
  
• Prepare and maintain records and reports.
  
• Make mathematical calculations quickly and accurately.
  
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
  
• Maintain effective communications and good relations with the public.
  
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
  
• Meet the public with courtesy and tact.
  
• Apply the techniques, methods, and principles in the equitable appraisal of real property.
  
• Read and interpret maps, assessment books, property descriptions, and legal codes.

HOLIDAYS & LEAVES
VACATION

10 days the first 5 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 160 hours), 15 days in the second 5 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 240 hours), and 20 days after 10 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 320 hours).

SICK LEAVE

0.0625 hours sick leave for each paid regularly scheduled work hour. 16 days (130 hours per year) with unlimited accumulation. Optional annual buy back of a portion of accumulated sick leave hours upon meeting certain criteria.

HOLIDAYS

Twelve paid holidays annually plus two optional holidays.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE

Five (5) regularly scheduled workdays.

INSURANCE
HEALTH INSURANCE
Medical Insurance - Merced County offers multiple Medical Plans and contributes towards employee and dependent premiums. Medical plan availability varies based on bargaining units.

• Anthem 500 EPO
• Anthem 1500 EPO
• Anthem HDHP (High Deductible Medical Plan) with Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Anthem HDHP (High Deductible Medical Plan) without Health Savings Account (HSA)

• County pays 100% of the premium for employees and 50% for dependent(s)

• County pays 100% of the premium for employees and 50% for dependent(s)

• Represented Employees $10,000

Voluntary Term and Whole Life Insurance are available - premium paid by employee

RETIREMENT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION

The County offers a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. Employees choose their investment funds and can make pretax contributions to the plan up to the maximum allowable.

MERCED COUNTY EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION

The retirement plan is a defined benefit plan administered pursuant to the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 and other provisions of the California Government Code. MCERA members also pay into Social Security. The applicable benefit formula is dependent upon your hire date with an MCERA employer; your pension amount will be determined by your age, years of service and final compensation amount.

EXTRA HELP EMPLOYEES DO NOT QUALIFY FOR COUNTY BENEFITS.

EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

Anthem EAP services provide up to five face-to-face counseling sessions per incident and provides a toll-free "800" hotline available 24/7 for emergencies and crisis intervention. EAP services include counseling services, legal services, financial services and work-life resource services.

EMPLOYEE TICKETS, COUPONS, and DISCOUNTS

The County of Merced has partnered with Employee Savings Tickets to provide discounted coupons and tickets for all county employees to attractions throughout the state and out-of-state. The discounts and coupons are available for shopping, movies, sporting events, theme parks, zoos and aquariums and much more.

THIS BULLETIN IS NOT A CONTRACT AND DOES NOT CREATE CONTRACTUAL OR LEGAL RIGHTS ON BEHALF OF ANY EMPLOYEE. THIS BULLETIN IS SUBJECT OF BEING SUPPLEMENTED, MODIFIED, WITHDRAWN OR OTHERWISE CHANGED PENDING LABOR AGREEMENTS AND/OR AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DEEM NECESSARY.

For answers to specific questions regarding employee benefits, please call Human Resources at 209.385.7682