Taos County approves pay incentive for IAAO-certified appraisers

The Taos County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 18 approved Resolution 2025-48, updating incentive pay for employees holding IAAO (International Association of Assessing Officers) appraiser certificates.

Maria Dimas presented the resolution, describing a tiered increase in certification pay tied to existing state statutes. She told the commission the changes would raise appraiser compensation levels and help the assessor’s office retain trained staff. Dimas reported a one-time and ongoing cost estimate — including PERA, FICA and health care — of $17,733.31 for the adjustments presented to the board.

Commissioner Vigil asked for clarity on previous dollar amounts and how the new schedule compared to the former incentives, noting the board needed side-by-side figures for context. Dimas said prior payments had been substantially lower (cited as cents-per-hour figures in the presentation) and offered to supply a detailed comparison and documentation to commissioners.

“I'm in total agreement on incentive programs,” Commissioner Vigil said when moving approval, but he attached a condition requiring a follow-up work study so commissioners and staff could address lingering concerns about assessor operations and program details. The motion carried on a roll-call vote.

Why it matters: The change adjusts recurring payroll for certified appraisers and affects the assessor subdepartment’s compensation budget. Commissioners emphasized staff retention and accuracy in property valuation as the rationale, while also asking for a work-study session to review implementation and answer outstanding questions.

The board approved the resolution and asked human resources and finance to prepare the payroll changes to take effect the first full pay period after finalization, with certification documentation to be filed in personnel files before incentive payments begin. The work-study to address implementation was requested to take place soon after the vote.