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Wayne council approves $194,425 citywide residential reassessment to update photos and digital sketches
Summary
After public opposition, the Wayne City Council approved a one‑year reassessment contract with WCA Assessing to photograph and digitally sketch 5,555 residential properties for $194,425 to meet state requirements and prepare for a state audit.
The Wayne City Council on March 18 approved a contract with WCA Assessing to perform a one‑year residential reassessment of the city, including exterior inspections, photographs and digital sketches for 5,555 parcels at a cost of $194,425.
City officials said the work is required to bring property record cards into digital compliance ahead of a State audit and to make online assessing records accurate. "This is to make sure that every residential home, all 5,555 that we have, have a picture on file, have a digital sketch on file so that the resident, at any time, can go to the online assessing website," Jennifer, the WCA assessor, told council. She added fieldwork would be exterior only and that "they will never, ever ask to go inside your home." The city manager said the effort will both meet state requirements and improve the quality of local property data.
Public commenters objected to the timing and cost. "I don't really see the reasoning to spend $194,425 on that since they've been doing this all along," said Mr. Blackwell during the public‑comment period. Another commenter urged the council to "seriously reconsider spending this $194,425." Council members and staff responded that much of the city’s historical assessing data lacks digital sketches and photographs, and that the state can force a citywide reassessment if records fail an audit. "If our records are not accurate... they will force us to do a reassessment," the WCA assessor said, citing the state audit process.
Council members asked about the inspection process and resident notice. WCA said inspections will be Monday–Friday, roughly 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; inspectors will knock, present city identification, measure exteriors, photograph structures and — when necessary — access backyards for garages or detached structures. WCA said it will not use drones, will not enter homes and will leave if a resident refuses access. Staff said the contractor can work with the city on postcard mailings, social posts and police notifications so residents know when crews will be in specific neighborhoods.
Council also approved a budget amendment earlier in the meeting that adds $48,606 this fiscal year toward the reassessment; the remainder will be requested in next year’s budget. The council approved the WCA proposal in a recorded roll call vote.
