Committee approves deputy assessor job description to address township workload

The Administration and Legal Affairs Committee unanimously approved a deputy assessor job description and added the position to next year’s budget at its Aug. 13 meeting.

Supervisor of Assessments (unnamed), Supervisor of Assessments, told the committee she has been short-staffed and expects the county to resume responsibility for field work in up to 17 townships. She said that will require more than a part-time field worker and that a full-time deputy is needed to “do the different thing” that includes field visits in summer and office data entry in winter.

Nut graf: The hiring decision responds to persistent staffing shortages in the assessor’s office and aims to reduce reliance on township hires, balance workloads and begin using an upgraded valuation workflow.

Discussion and details - The supervisor said a one-time DevNet software upgrade of $5,000 is required so the office can use the system’s valuation features rather than performing manual workarounds; she said the upgrade will save substantial staff time. - The job description was prepared using a neighboring county’s template and was reviewed by liability counsel; committee members noted the description includes physical duties such as walking on uneven terrain. - The supervisor said she also plans a pay adjustment to start new hires at more competitive wages given recent hires in nearby jurisdictions.

Formal action - A motion to approve the deputy assessor job description and include the position in the next year’s budget passed unanimously.

Ending - The assessor’s office will proceed with the hiring process and planned DevNet upgrade, and the position will appear in the proposed FY2026 budgets returned to the committee.