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Walla Walla County commissioners defer hiring decision for assessor’s commercial appraiser
Summary
A request from the county assessor to exempt a commercial appraiser position from the hiring freeze drew budgetary concern from commissioners; no motion was taken and staff were asked to return with the request in June.
Chairman Fulmer and the Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners discussed a hiring-freeze exception request April 8 from Byron, the county assessor, who asked permission to fill a vacant commercial appraiser position.
The request, presented by Byron in chambers, followed the retirement of the previous commercial appraiser in March. “The position opened in March. The current, or, I guess, previous appraiser retired,” Byron said, and said he had delayed recruiting to allow internal staff time to finish appraisal-cycle work.
Commissioner Kimball said the county must create vacancy savings and pushed for leaving one position frozen to spread budget pain across offices. “We’re financially strapped at the moment,” Kimball said, and added that if the assessor posted the job externally and filled it, Kimball would vote against replacing other positions later. Kimball told Byron the board’s expectation was that filling one vacancy could mean leaving a related residential appraisal post unfilled through attrition.
Commissioner Clayton asked whether collective-bargaining rules require external posting. Diane, the clerk, read from the union contract (Article 11): a department head “may, but shall not be required to, fill the position through promotion or transfer of a qualified person in the affected Department,” which the clerk said would allow an internal-only hire if the assessor chose that route.
Staff and commissioners discussed timing and alternatives. Byron said he preferred to keep the hiring process ready so he could start quickly if approved, but said his preference was to wait until staff finished valuation work and suggested a June 1 start if hiring internally. “I was going to keep the process going…so that when it does come to June, I can actually start that process right away without any lag time,” Byron said.
The board did not take a vote. Chairman Fulmer said commissioners would not make a motion on the request that day and asked Byron to return with the item on or after June 1. Byron said he would withdraw the current exception request and reapply later.
Why it matters: The decision affects appraisal capacity for commercial and residential property valuations, which in turn affects tax assessments and county revenue forecasts. Commissioners framed the request against a backdrop of lower sales-tax receipts in January–February and broader county efforts to realize vacancy savings before potential staff reductions later in the fiscal year.
Next steps: Byron will withdraw the current exception request and refile when ready; commissioners asked staff to return with the clarified posting approach and a firm start date (June 1 was suggested).
