Property Appraiser I

Buncombe County Tax Assessment Department is comprised of 35 employees who are responsible for identifying listing and appraising all real and personal property within Buncombe County in accordance with state laws. The department strives to ensure fair and equitable property assessment that forms the basis for local taxation helping to fund vital public services such as schools emergency services parks and much more. Additionally the office administers tax relief programs including exemptions for senior citizens disables persons and veterans and provides supports with tax deferment for land designated agricultural horticultural historical forestland or wildlife conservation easement.

An Exemptions Specialist employee is in a position of trust and must represent the Countys core values. The candidate for this position must have a commitment to public service and professional development. The individual should be a detailed oriented professional with a strong foundation in property tax relief programs and North Carolina state statutes related to tax deferment relief and exemptions. This is a mixture of office and field work. The candidate must demonstrate excellent communication skills attention to detail and the ability to explain complex regulations to the public in a comprehensive and clear manner. The role requires a collaborative service-oriented professional capable of working across departments and with the community to ensure equitable access to tax relief.

Purpose of the Position:

The purpose of this position is to manage the generation mailing processing approval and denial of all property tax exemption and deferment applications in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes. This includes handling applications for Present Use Value tax deferments as well as exemptions for the elderly disabled individuals disabled veterans and properties used for charitable religious educational historical and hospital purposes among others.

Minimum Education Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire): Associates degree in related field and a minimum of one (1) year related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Training and Experience: Ability to obtain a passing score on two required courses from the N. C. Department of Revenue for Appraiser Certification within 1 year of hire.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation: NC Department of Revenue certification as a Real Property Appraiser within 1 year of employment. Valid NC Drivers License

Essential Functions of the Position:

• Collect data for Exemptions request information from property owners and process new applications and /or re-qualifications for Exempt and Deferred list and appraise real property for taxation in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes.
• Perform parcel site visits to verify residential real property improvements.
• Perform street imagery drives throughout the county with specialized imagery equipment.
• Maintain accurate records in accordance with NC property tax laws policies and procedures.
• Research ownership deceased owners collect data and perform more specialized appraisals related to determining the taxable value of properties.
• Input property data into the CAMA system (computer aided mass appraisal) and NCPTS Tax Billing System.
• Handle citizen appeals on motor vehicles real personal and business personal property including formal appeals to the Board of Equalization and Review.
• Sketch blueprints of structures determine the square footage type of construction grade of materials quality of workmanship and other related data needed to arrive at the taxable market value.
• Prepare analysis reports related to appraisal data.
• Handle citizen appeals on real property including formal appeals to the Board of Equalization and Review.
• Read and decipher ownership on real property deeds.
• Respond to telephone/e-mail inquiries for real/personal/business listing motor vehicle and tax office in general.
• Performs field inspections to determine acres in production forestry harvests income verification soil type analysis grid soil types approval or denial of new applications and re-qualifications removal of properties that are out of compliance works with Attorneys requests daily for deferred bill creation.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of principles practices and techniques used in property appraisal work as required.
• General knowledge of modern office practices and of forms and machines used in the preparation of tax office records. Microsoft office applications and Document Management Software.
• General knowledge of North Carolina Machinery Act and county tax policies concerning listing assessment billing appraising and appeal processes.
• General knowledge of Deeds and property transfers.
• Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the general public in explaining tax laws and policies.
• Ability to handle multiply task and work within deadlines.
• Ability to work with taxpayer records with utmost confidentiality as governed by the NC General Statutes and Public Records Law as well as established tax department confidentiality policy.
• Considerable knowledge of the geographical layout of the County.
• Considerable knowledge of the methods and procedures of the County Assessors Office.
• Considerable knowledge of the three approaches to Market value (Cost Income and Market) of real property.
• Ability to use maps and mapping software as needed.
• Ability to prepare and scan records utilizing the County document management software.

In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture one that fully engages all of our employees honoring and building on each employees unique experiences opinions and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race natural hair or hairstyles ethnicity creed color sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression national origin or ancestry marital or familial status pregnancy veteran status religious belief or non-belief age or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment hiring assignment promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected classes. In addition the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.