Assessing department automates BOE packets, reports staffing changes and falling appeals

Borough Assessor Adena Wilcox demonstrated a new automated packet for Board of Equalization hearings and reported staffing and appeals updates at the board’s May 13 reorganization meeting.

Wilcox said the new packet pulls data directly from the borough’s GIS and includes oblique imagery, property photos, an ortho map, topo and wetlands overlays, plat documents where available, a visual market-area map and sales used in the ratio study. "It's all automated from our GIS system and incorporates with our notice that we sent out," she said, adding the automation should reduce input errors and present packets in a consistent order.

On staffing, Wilcox identified Chris Van Slyke as an appraisal analyst hired last year and said the assessing department currently has one appraiser position open and one personal-property appraiser position that will open due to a retirement at month-end; she said she hopes to fill both positions internally.

Wilcox also summarized appeals and fieldwork from the last year. The assessing department’s canvas areas for 2024–25 included Anchor Point, Ninilchik, Caribou Hills, Clam Gulch and the Kasilof River area and portions south of the borough’s central corridor; she told the board the department is using a new recreational-structure category for certain nonresidential, non-house buildings commonly found in recreational areas. Reported activity counts: 704 informal calls (down from 788 in 2024), 137 total appeals (down from 369 in 2024) and 32 appeals scheduled to go to the board (down from 45). Wilcox flagged 19 files tied to a local flood area that will be on the first hearing day.

Board members praised the visual packet and asked procedural follow-ups about inspections and photograph submission. Wilcox said interior inspections remain required when relevant and that the department has tightened photo-acceptance practices after instances of outdated or incorrect photos.