During a recent government meeting, officials discussed the annual assessment report, highlighting significant growth in residential and non-residential property values in the county. The assessor presented data indicating an increase of over $317 million in residential property values and approximately $110 million in non-residential values, marking an 18% rise. This growth is attributed to the county's rapid expansion, which has led to ongoing staffing shortages within the assessor's office.

The assessor noted that the office currently has 41 positions, with three vacancies, and emphasized the challenges posed by the high turnover rate, as staff are often recruited by neighboring counties due to competitive pay. The importance of maintaining a well-staffed office was underscored, particularly given the responsibility of managing nearly 150,000 property accounts with only 15 residential and three commercial appraisers.

A notable point of discussion was the high number of protests filed regarding property valuations, with over 8,000 protests recorded for the year. However, most of these were resolved before reaching formal hearings, indicating a generally effective assessment process. The assessor explained that many protests stemmed from discrepancies in property values, particularly among accounts managed by the Automated Market Research and Analysis Program (AMRAP).

Commissioners raised concerns about the adequacy of staffing levels, particularly in light of the increasing workload and the need for more commercial appraisers to address rising property values. The assessor indicated that to meet industry standards, the office would require at least 15 additional residential appraisers and three more commercial appraisers.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to explore solutions for staffing challenges and to address community concerns regarding property valuation increases, particularly in the commercial sector. The assessor's office aims to maintain transparency and efficiency in its operations while navigating the complexities of a rapidly growing county.