Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Reappraisal topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners press assessor for detailed reappraisal plan and timeline for 1% fund use
Summary
The board asked the assessor to submit a formal, detailed resolution and timeline for using the assessor’s 1% fund to perform countywide reappraisals, and asked staff to help produce a plan that includes timing, expected results and funding needs.
Doña Ana County commissioners on June 17 urged the county assessor to submit a formal plan and resolution describing how the office will use the assessor’s 1% fund to perform reappraisals, saying the materials the board had received lacked timelines, staffing and measurable results.
Commissioners said they had previously reviewed a presentation from the assessor but that the package did not include concrete specifics on expected accomplishments by year, staffing needs or how the project would be resourced and tracked. Commissioner Reynolds told the room: “We did receive somewhat of a plan, but it did not include any specifics about timing, resources, results, expectations, conclusions, responsibilities.”
County staff and commissioners noted the Department of Finance and Administration had reviewed the use of the 1% fund and issued guidance to the county; DFA’s letter, referenced in the meeting, confirmed the fund’s use for reappraisal work but requires the assessor to provide a clear plan for board approval. Assistant County Manager Stephen Lopez asked commissioners to provide direction to the assessor and offered staff support to help draft a resolution or locate model plans from other counties.
Deputy assessor staff had discussed staffing approaches and a hybrid in‑house/contract model during prior briefings; commissioners suggested a cyclical five‑ to six‑year approach so in‑person appraisal work is performed on a rolling basis rather than in a single concentrated round that creates large hires and subsequent layoffs. Commissioners said the board needs a plan that describes: anticipated percent of parcels reappraised each year, staffing approach (internal vs. contract), estimated costs and funding sources (including the 1% fund), and an explicit timeline so the board can consider the assessor’s plan before final budget submissions.
The board gave staff direction to work with the assessor’s office to produce a formal resolution, and asked that the assessor present a complete plan at the board’s next meeting. Commissioners emphasized the county’s rising property values and the need for regular reappraisals to maintain an equitable tax base.
