Tax Assessor Office Seeks Market Pay Adjustments After High Turnover

William Harris, representing the Tax Assessor’s Office, asked the board to approve market adjustments for staff pay that would total roughly $15,600 annually. He said two appraisers would receive $2.00 per hour increases and two positions (administrative assistant and Appraiser I) would receive $1.50 per hour increases; two other positions were not being adjusted.

Harris said turnover has been significant: three employees left county employment in the past year and some positions have turned over more than once, which he said has affected the office’s continuity. County Administrator John Gorton told the board the proposed amounts were developed by the Board of Tax Assessors and recommended a county-wide comparison to assess equity, noting that if one department receives market adjustments similar reviews should occur across other departments. Commissioners discussed whether market adjustments should be paired with or offset by the planned 3% merit increase.