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Commissioners press assessor and trustee on XAI filings and AI use in county finance
Summary
Commissioners asked whether the assessor's office and finance are using artificial intelligence and pressed for more detail on XAI's filings; the assessor said filings are incomplete and the trustee said a new tax system may allow more automation.
During the presentations commissioners asked about two related items: whether county divisions are using artificial intelligence (AI) to support operations and how the county will account for the XAI supercomputer’s personal-property equipment.
Commissioner Wright asked if divisions are using AI; Assessor Burgess said he did not know and would follow up. Trustee Regine Newman said the trustee’s office has only a chatbot on the website and is focused on implementing a new tax system expected to go live in March, which may allow more AI-enabled reporting. Budget Director Michael Thompson said the budget office is using AI tools cautiously for non-proprietary tasks and is preparing a budget curriculum to discuss how such tools could help the county.
On the XAI question, commissioners and staff discussed filing deadlines and asset schedules. Burgess said the assessor’s office has been in regular contact with XAI’s tax representatives and general counsel and that the office has conservatively estimated $13.5 million in personal-property revenue so far; he cautioned that lease vs. ownership of equipment could change assessment treatment.
Commissioner Thornton asked whether the county should expect evasive tax strategies; Burgess said his office has seen no indications yet but is monitoring filings and will report flags if they arise. Several commissioners asked for improved interoffice communication when large companies enter the county so the assessor, trustee and finance staff can coordinate earlier.
