Professional Assessing Services

The vendor is required to provide for professional assessing services.
- Services include:
• Plan, supervise, and participate in the appraisal, re-appraisal, and assessment of all real and personal properties in the township in accordance with state law and township ordinances.
• Perform on-site inspections in compliance with state law and properly account for changes in property characteristics, including performing measurements and apex sketches.
• Maintain assessment rolls for the township, including ad valorem, specific tax rolls (pilts, etc.), and special assessments in order to ensure compliance with state law and township ordinances.
• Respond promptly to inquiries from township staff, residents, county equalization staff and other interested parties.
• Keep the property record field cards up-to-date and generally oversee all assessing records including physical data, legal descriptions, splits and combinations of parcels, and ownership transfers.
• In consultation with township staff, assist with land divisions and combinations as necessary, complying with the state’s land division act and county/township procedures for land divisions including the township’s land divisions, subdivisions and development ordinance.
• Prepare the winter and summer assessment rolls for the township treasurer and coordinate transfer of information to county taxation.
• Analyze property sales of all property classes within the township to determine property values and appropriate assessment adjustments, including vacant land values.
• Identify all uncapping events and adjust assessments accordingly.
• Review and process all hardship tax and veteran’s exemption applications.
• File all necessary state and county reports pertaining to the assessment and tax rolls as required by law.
• Prepare a report for the township regarding the status of the assessing services being performed and the assessment roll and present it to the township board.
• Attend township board meetings and committee meetings as needed.
• Update the treasurer’s department with pertinent information on all name and address changes made to the database(s).
• Township staff may perform the actual updates to files.
• All assessment files will be the property of, and kept in, the township hall.
• Track all building permits and re-assess all properties with construction activity requiring a building permit to ensure that assessments are accurate.
• Maintain parcel, tax and land value maps utilizing the county access GIS map system.
• Process personal property statements, including conducting an annual inspection to ensure an up-to-date list of personal property.
• Comply with all personal property tax reporting requirements to the state, tracking any required reductions.
• Respond to complaints pertaining to property assessments and upon request, meet with taxpayers regarding assessment determinations and explain appeal procedures.
• Act as the liaison in communicating with the public and other governmental agencies on assessing issues.
• Prepare assessment notices to all property owners in accordance with state laws.
• Schedule the board of review meetings and attend board of review meetings.
• Coordinate with the township attorney in the defense of tax and assessment appeals.
• Communicate openly and in a timely fashion with township staff and the public in handling appeals to ensure the board of review has all available information to render its decisions.
• Participate in all board of review sessions and compile results and oversee preparation of letters and reports associated with board of review hearings.
• Prepare changes to the roll based on decisions of the board of review and/or state tax tribunal.
• Coordinate with the county equalization department to facilitate the digital and manual transfer of data and values.
• Update market values for land and buildings owned by the township.
• Said information obtained shall be used for insurance purposes, depreciation, and to establish lease values.
• Make taxable value estimates by the deadlines established by the township supervisor or treasurer.
• Complete the audit of minimum assessing requirements (“AMAR”) and advise the township of standard and recommended actions to ensure the township remains in full compliance with the state tax commission.
• Perform services in accord with the supervising preparation of the assessment roll and any other guidance, statute, or best practice as now, or in the future, may be created.
• On an annual basis, conduct a review of no fewer than 20% of all properties in the township.
• This percentage should include new construction, building permits, and house sales.
• Implement an action plan to ensure all properties in the township, unless vacant, under water, assessed with other properties, common areas, or township-owned, are physically inspected and have their files and photos updated at least every six (6) years.
• Maintain current knowledge regarding assessing-related technology, market trends and pending legislation pertaining to taxation and other developments in the property assessment field.
• Perform all other duties incidental to the normal duties of an assessor.
- Contract Period/Term: 3 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: May 9, 2025