Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Assessing Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ellsworth approves multi-year contract for assessing support after public concern over prior vote
Summary
Council authorized a hybrid contract with RCS Assessment Services to provide assessing support (personal property, fieldwork and business-process redesign) under a roughly $450,000, multi-year arrangement funded from unallocated TIF; the vote was 6–1 after public comment raised due‑diligence concerns about an earlier motion.
Ellsworth City Council authorized the city manager to contract with RCS Assessment Services to supply supplemental assessing support so the city can deliver tax commitments on time and avoid a costly revaluation. The council approved the measure 6–1 after a public hearing and staff presentation.
Deputy City Manager Sarah Devlin said the contract is a hybrid model that keeps the city’s certified assessor in place while adding outside personnel focused on personal property commitments, new permits, field work and business-process redesign. "This is not a full outsourcing of the assessing department," Devlin said, adding the work would help prevent partial or full reevaluation processes and improve taxpayer communications ahead of billing.
City staff told the council the recommended RFP response would provide surge capacity and technical resources the city lacks internally. The staff evaluation team included the city manager, planning and code staff, the city assessor and others; staff recommended RCS based on capacity and proposed approach. The package described in staff materials totals about $450,000 over the contract period (three calendar years spanning four fiscal years) and would be paid from unallocated TIF funding.
Luna Pinder, a former city assistant assessor who spoke during the public hearing, reiterated concerns she raised in October about an earlier motion that would have dissolved the assessing department. "I want to urge the council in future investigations to truly do due diligence before a motion is put up to vote," Pinder said, noting the operational risk of hasty decisions.
Councilors pressed staff on oversight, on how the city assessor will work with the contractor and on built-in performance checks. Devlin and Manager Charlie Pierce said the city assessor will remain the certified official with final authority and that the contract includes deliverables and a staff‑led evaluation. Councilor Smith asked staff to return with a one-year report on outcomes tied to the contract’s goals, and staff agreed to do so.
The motion to authorize the contract was moved, seconded and carried by roll call (6–1). The contract authorization instructs the city manager to finalize terms that protect city interests and to return to council if material adjustments are needed.
