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Assessment office drops TrueRoll software after cleanup; board of review staffing to remain at three for now
Summary
Supervisor of assessments reported discontinuing the TrueRoll exemption-validation contract because the office resolved most problematic exemptions; the board of review will remain at three members under statute but members expressed concern about coverage and recommended keeping an extra member if possible.
The LaSalle County supervisor of assessments informed the finance committee on July 8 that the office will not renew the TrueRoll exemption-validation software contract, citing that the program achieved its primary purpose of removing invalid exemptions and the county staff can now maintain the records in-house.
"The first two years that we had TrueRoll, it fulfilled its purpose ... we've cleaned up a lot in the county, and we can't justify the cost of the program," the supervisor said. Committee members noted the software originally cost about $35,000 and that the contract had produced an increase in assessed EAV when it was in use.
On the board of review, staff reported a planned staffing structure of three statutory members rather than four. Committee members and staff described operational risks when members are absent; the supervisor and county clerk said the statute sets the required membership at three but that historically the county had four to provide rotation and backups. "In my personal opinion, absolutely" keep four, said the clerk of the board of review when asked, but staff noted adding an alternate would require ensuring certification and compliance with state board-review testing.
The assessment office also described payroll changes tied to retirements and internal replacements; supervisors said they planned to promote from within and had budgeted for a union-position clerk and described the partial reimbursement of the supervisor's salary by the state Department of Revenue.
Committee members asked for a monthly forecast of the assessment office's current-year expenditures to help the finance committee monitor any impacts from the software cancellation and staffing transitions.
