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Cascade Charter Township approves contract to outsource assessing; manager cites $350,000 annual savings
Summary
The township approved a three-year contract with Assessing Administration Services (AAS) to provide assessing services. Manager Smith said the change will preserve on-site staffing, give the township access to a larger assessor bench and save roughly $350,000 a year; trustees requested details on appeals and legal review.
Cascade Charter Township voted to contract assessing services to Assessing Administration Services (AAS) for a three-year term with an option to extend, a move staff presented as both an operational restoration after recent staff departures and a budgetary savings measure.
Manager Smith told trustees that the assessing department had lost the majority of its staff and the township solicited proposals; AAS was selected after interviews and a short trial. "I can say that going with this contract also is gonna save the township $350,000 annually, and that equates over a million dollars in the first 3 years," Manager Smith said during the presentation. The manager also said the change would not reduce in‑office customer service: Sean, the township’s existing assessor, will remain on site and AAS will add additional staff for fieldwork and appeals.
AAS principal Bill Griffith described the firm’s experience and capacity: AAS employs multiple level‑4 assessors, supports a roster of clients and said it can supply staff for large residential or commercial projects and for appeals. Griffith said AAS intends to handle evaluation disclosures and testify in hearings when needed and that the firm will coordinate with the township attorney for tribunal-level litigation.
Trustees asked about appeals costs and legal fees. Manager Smith and Griffith said AAS will manage typical appeals internally but that outside legal counsel could be needed for high‑level tribunal litigation; the board asked staff to return with clarifications about appeals cost responsibilities and any required attorney coordination. Trustees approved the contract after a motion; manager noted the hard copy of the corrected contract was provided at the meeting because the packet contained an earlier, unapproved draft.
Next steps: township legal review and contract execution, scheduling of onboarding and confirmation of Sean’s on-site schedule and an update to the board about appeals handling and any associated legal costs.
