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Council approves in‑house property reassessment plan, asks assessor for staffing and equipment list
Summary
The Hampton County Council voted to accept the assessor’s proposal to perform the county property reassessment in‑house, asking the assessor to submit a plan that lists two temporary field hires, vehicle needs, equipment and an appeals board. Council requested a concrete equipment and hiring list for budget review.
Hampton County Council on March 19 voted to accept the assessor’s proposal to complete the county property reassessment in‑house and asked staff to present a resource plan for council approval.
County Administrator (speaker 4) summarized recent assessor‑office staffing shortages and explained that the county had used outside consulting and temporary support in prior months; staff recommended a structure that keeps reassessment work inside the assessor’s office with temporary hires and limited consulting support. “We now have a total of 3 individuals in that office, and we're looking to hire a permanent assessor,” the administrator said.
Pam (speaker 5), the assessor, told the council the office needs two temporary field workers (with salaries), dependable vehicles for field work, 2–3 updated digital cameras and another computer to download photos, and an appeals board of five members to hear protests after reassessment. “We are needing 2, field workers. We're gonna have to hire 2 field workers,” the assessor said during the presentation.
The assessor estimated the reassessment will take about a year and a half to two years to complete and referenced Department of Revenue (DOR) timing for assessment notices. Council members discussed statutory requirements for appeals‑board composition and the challenge of recruiting qualified volunteers; staff counsel noted the council may set stricter qualifications than the statute requires.
Council member (speaker 2) moved to accept the assessor’s in‑house reassessment plan and asked staff to prepare and present a detailed plan showing what resources are needed for the council to approve. The motion was seconded and approved by hand‑raise vote with no recorded opposition or abstentions. Council directed staff to return with job criteria, equipment lists and cost estimates to be addressed in the FY2026–27 budget or absorbed in part in the current fiscal year where feasible.
