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After county fee hike, Berkley council approves new assessing services contract
Summary
Facing a near-95% fee increase from Oakland County, Berkley approved M50-25 to contract assessing services to WCA Assessing. Staff said only one formal RFP response was received but the vendor offered a lower price than the county increase and an immediate onboarding path due to shared tax software.
The Berkley City Council on June 16 authorized motion M50-25, approving an assessing services proposal from WCA Assessing to replace Oakland County’s assessing services after the county notified Berkley of a near-95% fee increase.
City staff said Oakland County gave little lead time and proposed a $120,000 increase in assessments fees, prompting Berkley and roughly 32 neighboring communities to seek alternative providers. The city issued an RFP and, after active outreach and follow-up calls, received one formal response. City officials said they considered that response favorable because the vendor already serves nearby communities and is familiar with the tax software used across the region.
Finance Director Carl Johnson and the city manager explained that the assessor’s responsibilities include setting assessed values for real and personal property, conducting sales studies, and ensuring new development and removals are reflected on the tax rolls. The recommended firm will operate remotely but provide a Berkley email address and be on-site as needed to serve residents. Johnson said onboarding should be quick because the vendor uses the same tax software widely deployed in Wayne and Oakland counties.
Council members praised staff for acting swiftly to avoid the county’s steep increase. Council member Balani requested clarity on outreach and the limited RFP response; staff said the RFP was widely publicized and that many assessors were simultaneously fielding the same wave of solicitations from multiple communities. The motion passed on a roll-call vote. Council directed staff to publicize the new contact information for residents and to proceed with onboarding tasks.
