TAX ASSESSOR
SALARY: $120,000 - $125,000/Annual
The City of Danbury is currently seeking a Tax Assessor. This person in this position will perform a variety of professional, technical, supervisory and administrative work in performing assessment duties imposed by State and local law. Responsible for assessing valuation of real, personal and motor vehicle property for the preparation of the annual Grand List.
Please carefully read this entire important announcement
The City of Danbury will not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, or disability, except where it is a bona fide occupational qualification. We encourage African Americans, women, Hispanics, and other minorities who meet the minimum qualifications to apply.
The following information is only a general description of the recruitment and hiring process and is not all-inclusive. Please note that any and/or all of the components of this process may be changed by the City of Danbury with or without notice. Additionally, the City of Danbury reserves the right to modify the order sequence of testing as may be appropriate.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
Performs a variety of professional, technical, supervisory and administrative work in performing assessment duties imposed by State and local law. Responsible for assessing valuation of real, personal and motor vehicle property for the preparation of the annual Grand List.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Plans, directs and supervises the operations and staff of the department and administers/evaluates assessment activities.
Exercises all authority provided to, and meets all responsibilities imposed upon, municipal Assessors by local and State law.
Develops policies and procedures for the operation of the Office of the Assessor as necessary to ensure efficiency and implements directives of the City’s Director of Finance.
Coordinates and ensures the discovery, listing and valuation of all real, personal and motor vehicle property within the City of Danbury in a uniform and equitable manner in accordance and compliance with local and State laws and regulations; applies exemptions as permitted by State law.
Testifies at State Tax Court hearing to present data documenting and substantiating appraisal and assessment calculations.
Develops and maintains systems, records and documents that provide for the proper evaluation, control and documentation of assessment activities and operations.
Coordinate the activities of the Board of Assessment Appeals explaining how assessments are calculated: providing administrative support for the Board of Assessment Appeals using Microsoft Office to notify appellants of hearing appointments and results and to track assessment adjustments.
Develops and maintains current inventory of all property, including changes in ownership, new construction, alterations/improvements, subdivisions and property splits in related computer programs and property maps.
Researches and responds to government official, taxpayer and public inquiries and complaints.
Reviews exemptions for compliance with state statues: responsible for the administration of Town and State Elderly Tax Relief Programs; files reports on elderly, veterans, and all other reports as required by the State Office of Policy and Management, Town Ordinance, or Director of Finance.
Directs and coordinates the provision of information with respect to assessment appeals; assists the City of Danbury in proceedings related to protested assessments.
Directs and coordinates the calculation of the annual Grand List.
Reconcile the Tax Collector’s rate book with the Grand List prior to sending out tax bills.
Coordinates bidding and contracting for vendors of the City of Danbury-wide revaluation services, supervises Revaluation Company.
Prepares and presents a proposed annual budget for the Office of the Assessor and the performance measures of assessment functions; directs the implementation of the adopted budget.
Directs and supervises the selection, training, assignment, evaluation and discipline of Assistant Assessors and other employees within the Office of the Assessor; administers personnel rules, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements for the Office of Assessor.
Assigns, evaluates and trains department personnel in property assessment procedures; Coordinates, assigns and oversees workload for assigned staff.
Prepares, submits and presents narrative and statistical reports as required by local or State law or requested by Mayor and/or Director of Finance; attends meetings of the Board of Assessment and Appeals, City Council, Department of Finance Department Head Staff, and Mayor’s Cabinet.
Maintains positive working relationships with government officials, community groups, taxpayers and the public regarding assessment activities; promptly and cordially responds to inquiries and requests for information.
Attends training, seminars and conferences, and participates in professional assessment activities, to become and remain current on developments in relevant fields. Obtains additional training and education in Appraisal and Assessment Laws and techniques.
Identifies and pursues funding and other resources; directs, reviews, drafts as necessary, and approves grant proposal packages; assists in the preparation, review and administration of vendor contracts and agreements.
Confers with Town Officials and staff, property owners, and the public regarding assessment information.
Reviews and recommends need for, and assist in selection of, private appraisal services.
MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
Must be a graduate from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance or a related field.
Four (4) years of progressively responsible appraisal and municipal experience or equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience to perform the essential functions of the job in sole determination of the City.
Must have a minimum of four (4) years of recent supervisory experience.
Completion of at least one (1) class from the CCMA program or Assessor certification from another state with the ability to become CCMA certified within 3-5 years. Must maintain enrollment in the CCMA program until successfully receiving certification.
Must possess a valid, active Motor Vehicle Operator’s license
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of principles and practices of municipal property assessment.
Knowledge of State laws, regulations and local ordinances governing municipal property assessment and exemptions.
Knowledge of economic and real estate trends.
Knowledge of the local area and its properties.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration.
Knowledge of real estate valuation and appraisal techniques.
Skill in financial and human capital management.
Skill in the use of computers, including MS Office, Google Apps, Etc.
Demonstrate computer and data processing skills through working knowledge of the following software: Vision Government Solutions CAMA (Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal), Quality Data Services (QDS) Assessment Administration, Geographical Information Systems, (GIS) and familiarity with NewWorld (Tyler) Financial Systems.
Ability to plan, organize, direct, coordinate and evaluate work of departmental programs and employees.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other departments and employees, local and State government officials, real estate professionals, taxpayers and the general public.
Ability to compose clear and correct written correspondence and reports; ability to effectively present information verbally and respond to questions from groups of managers, vendors, taxpayers, and the general public.
Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and government regulations.
If you do not meet the above minimum requirements your application will not be accepted by the Civil Service Commission.
PLEASE NOTE: Be sure to complete the application in its entirety by including your specific skills and responsibilities under each position that you have held. Should you not specifically indicate that you have the skills required as defined above, the Civil Service Commission will not accept your application.
2. Application Submission:
Applications are available at the Human Resources Dept., 155 Deer Hill Ave., Danbury, CT 06810 or at www.danbury-ct.gov. Applicants must submit four (4) completed applications which include a valid email address to the Human Resources department no later than 6:00 pm, Thursday, October 10, 2019. EEO/M/F/D/V.
The application must be completed in its entirety. Omissions, false, misleading or inaccurate information will result in rejection of the application.
It is recommended that applicants do not wait until the last day to submit the application. Applications should be completed as soon as possible after publication of the announcement for examination.
Please contact the Human Resources/Civil Service Department at (203) 797-4598 or [email protected] if you need assistance or if you have any general questions.
3. Application Review
The Civil Service Commission is responsible for reviewing the applications to determine if they are complete and meet the minimum requirements for the position. The Commission will review all the applications for the position during their monthly meeting following the closing date of the position.
If an application is accepted by the Civil Service Commission, then the applicant will be notified in via email and will be informed of the next step in the process. If the Commission does not accept an application, the applicant will also be notified via email.
4. Testing
Once an application is accepted by the Civil Service Commission, the applicant will be notified via email of the next steps in the testing process. Each test phase named below is listed in the order in which they occur. Each test phase must be passed with a “70%” in order to continue to the next level of the selection process.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to adhere to the City’s testing schedule. Unless otherwise stated, there will be no make-up examinations or alternative examination dates.
If an applicant fails the test phase listed below, the applicant will be immediately eliminated from consideration for this hiring process.
The Oral Examination (100% of the final score)
Test Date: To Be Determined (by appointment)
Location: Human Resources/Civil Service Office
Conference Room 3B
155 Deer Hill Avenue
Danbury, Connecticut 06810
(Unless otherwise notified, applicants are not permitted to bring and/or use calculators, electronic devices, books or other reference materials during the examinations).
Reasonable accommodations in the testing process:
All requests for reasonable accommodations in the testing process along with medical documentation establishing the need for the accommodation must be submitted to the City of Danbury Human Resources Department no later than the closing date of applications.
5. The Eligibility List
A passing average score of “70” or above on the test will place an applicant on the Tax Assessor Eligibility List in rank order. The rank on this list is established according to the averaged score on the examination according to the percentages as indicated above plus any additional applicable veterans points awarded. The resulting list is then certified by the Civil Service Commission and will be used to fill vacancies as they occur, as per Civil Service Rules. If the list is not exhausted, it remains in effect for one year. However, the Commission can decide to extend an eligibility list for one additional year.
Participation in the testing and recruitment process and/or placement on an eligibility list does not guarantee a continuance in the remainder of the hiring process nor does it imply or constitute an offer of employment.
6. Additional Testing Requirements
Once the eligibility list is certified, depending on the number of vacancies, candidates with the highest ranking on the list will be interviewed by a panel of City Officials. As future positions become available, applicants are interviewed from this list based on their ranking for as long as the list is active.
Those candidates selected through the panel interview will continue in the selection process by participating in an additional series of testing which may include but is not limited to background checks, drug screens, medical physical, etc. Once again, each test phase must be passed in order to continue to the next level of the testing process. If any one of the test phases is not passed, the candidate will be immediately eliminated from consideration for this hiring process and subsequently removed from the eligibility list.
Application