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Assessor says small staff, modest fee increases aim to offset rising personnel costs
Summary
Assessor Jill Murray told the board her five‑person office’s 2027 budget increases are driven by salary and benefit adjustments; a 25¢ per‑parcel fee change added about $4,300 to the office’s revenue and she plans to return next year with township billing comparatives and other cost‑saving ideas.
Assessor Jill Murray told commissioners the assessor's office staff remains small (five people) and that most budget increases requested for 2027 are personnel related—COLA, step increases and benefits. She said the assessor bills townships and cities for portions of assessor work and that a 25¢ per‑parcel fee increase implemented this year generated about $4,300 in additional revenue, a portion of which offset other expenses.
Murray said she has evaluated a Grama archive module and found staff can perform current tasks manually in less than a day, so she held off on that purchase; she also said some forms are statutorily mandated by the Department of Revenue and limit the county's ability to fully digitalize certain mailings. Commissioners confirmed that the department's proposals include COLA and step increases consistent with county guidance.
