Public questions RFP to outsource assessing; manager says one bidder responded

Raymond Williams of Hancock Street told the Finance Committee he discovered a request for proposals on the City of Ellsworth website seeking an assessor’s agent to replace the city assessor and objected to limited public discussion and apparent errors in the RFP language.

Williams said the RFP initially referenced the Munis software and later corrected that to Trio, and he questioned vague language about office hours and the short window for proposals. "I cannot remember recently any discussion at the council workshops, a regular council meeting, or at a finance committee meeting of provisions of any talk that the council has been involved in regarding reforms or changes in the assessing department," Williams said.

City Manager Charlie replied that assessing and timely tax commitments have been a recurring problem for several years and said the city has explored internal reforms, interim contractors and staff changes. "We had one bidder on the proposal," Charlie said, adding he had hoped for more responses but noted the market is thin in a rural region. Charlie said a memo and additional details will be provided to council and that a council meeting discussion is planned.

Charlie said outsourcing is one of several options being considered and that under the proposed approach an external consultant could be appointed as the city assessor; he estimated the arrangement could save roughly $65,000 in year 1 and reduce the city’s assessing FTEs from three to one under the consultant model. He emphasized any change would come to council for consideration.