Director of Equalization

Have you supervised a team, ran an office, prepared budgets, and done mathematical computations?  Do you have great computer knowledge and people skills? Join our team at Davison County!

Salary Classification: Salaried Exempt $52,619.61 - $64,211.62

Davison County offers a tremendous benefits package which includes health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, paid time off, State Retirement with employer match, and an Employee Assistance Program.  

Description of Work/General Statement of Duties:
Performs professional functions in the operation and appraisal of real estate located within the county for purposes of taxation, with the objective of equalizing all assessments. Develop and implement office operations including but not limited to computer programs, reappraisal projects, office policies and procedures, budgeting and personnel. Knowledge of laws and administrative rules pertaining to taxation is necessary.  

Duties Performed: 

• Provide assessing policies and procedures for all office staff, that directly comply with the standards set forth in South Dakota Codified laws, County policies, and administrative guidance of the Department of Revenue and Regulation.
• Within one year of hire date, obtain and maintain a Certified Appraiser Assessor (CAA) license from the Department of Revenue and Regulation in the state of South Dakota.  To obtain a CAA license requires receiving a passing grade on the following:
  • IAAO Site Analysis & Evaluation Course
  • IAAO An Introduction to the Sales Comparison Approach to Value Course
  • IAAO An Introduction to the Cost Approach to Value Course
  • IAAO An Introduction to the Income Approach to Value Course
  • IAAO Mass Appraisal of Residential Property Course
  • South Dakota Department of Revenue Assessor School Basics Course
  • Take and pass the CAA Test with a score of at lease 80%
  • Work for one year in an assessor’s office
• Maintaining a CAA license requires recertification every five years.  The requirements for recertification are:
  • Attend three annual assessor schools and receive a passing grade on the final exam. One school must be a 30- hour course from the IAAO education curriculum, unless the employee has previously successfully completed a total of five different department-approved IAAO courses.
  • Attend three department approved conferences, one of which must be an SDAAO conference.
  • Attend three department or department-approved workshops. Any department-approved workshop must be approved by the secretary for credit prior to the workshop.
  • Attend, during any even numbered year, a Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices (USPAP) course approved by the secretary. After the initial tested 15-hour course, USPAP requirements are 7-hour workshops.
• Assist all county assessors with the education and certification process of appraising practices.
• Responsible for interviews/hiring of potential employees as well performing employee valuations.
• Prepare and maintain yearly budget, monitor all expenditures to stay within budget, including making sure all bills are paid, appropriate budget line is used, and preparing county vouchers for processing and payment.
• Oversee all aspects of the office administrative and appraisal.
• Defend and assist appraisers with defending the valuations set on properties, participate in the preparation of appraisal defense, testify at hearings when necessary. Advise taxpayers of the appraisal process and their rights. 
• Work directly with Local Board of Equalization, County Board of Equalization and Consolidated Board of Equalization in understanding their applicable duties.
• Develop and implement constant property assessment rotation schedule.
• Appraise and calculate updated valuations for all classes of real property within Davison County.
• Collect field data of all classes of real property and maintain property cards with updated information such as soil types and unit costs, property detailed observations such as attributes of property and determination of the Quality and condition found out in the field to be used for calculations of cost, sales, and income approaches to value.
• Answer off and on-site inquiries to provide information concerning appraisals.
• Perform valuations on all land, both non-ag and agricultural.
• Maintain good understanding of various techniques associated with the income approach to value.
• Update and maintain good sales books for the general public to review upon request.
• Verify all sales of property within the county.
• Prepare assessment notices for all parcels located within Davison County.
• Prepare yearly assessment rolls for all taxing entities.
• Interpret transfers from the Register of Deeds for sales ratio purposes.
• Perform annual sales ratio studies to determine the taxable factor.
• Provide the Department of Revenue with all reports requested such as intentions, various sales ratio studies, abstract information by the deadlines set by the Department of Revenue and South Dakota Codified Law.
• Oversee the appeal process.  This includes contacting consolidated entities for their board members, preparing local board folders for their meetings, making sure director is aware of any local board changes for possible appeal backs to the county, collecting copies of all appeals filed for county and consolidated boards, scheduling appointments for those who request reviews, assigning an assessor to each appeal, preparing packets and PowerPoint presentations for the boards, and collecting all paperwork at conclusion and filing away.
• Performs all work in a manner consistent with safe practices.
• Attends training sessions and meetings to achieve and maintain a good working knowledge of changes made in this field of work through new laws, changes in current laws or those repealed.
• Develops and maintains positive professional relationships with the general public and other employees.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Basic mathematics applies to many different aspects in this office.
• Location of Davison County towns, townships, streets and businesses.
• Proficient in general computer programs including but not limited to Excel, Word, etc.
• General office equipment.
• Working knowledge of methods, techniques, and procedures utilized in appraisal of property for tax assessment purposes.
• Working knowledge of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Pictometry.
• Working knowledge of Marshall Swift Cost Valuation books and computer program.
• Working knowledge of Vanguard program.
• Working knowledge of state laws government assessment and collection of real property taxes.
• Working knowledge of survey/land measurement, assessment, and real property descriptions.

Skills of:

• Professional face-to-face communication with the general public.
• Maintaining a calm demeanor in all applicable situations.
• Developing public presentations.
• Effective technical writing.
• Office procedures, equipment and software applications.
• Read, interpret and explain information in a clear and accurate manner.
• An active member of the South Dakota Association of Assessing Officers (SDAAO) in good standing.
• An active member of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) in good standing.
• Work independently and meet schedules and timelines.
• Organization in maintaining records.
• Proficient at multi-tasking and taking on multiple projects at a time.
• Skill of 10 key and typing.

Ability to:

• Works tactfully, courteously and professionally with the general public, co-workers, public employees, professionals in the community, other government agencies; to include frequent contact with the public at meetings, in person, on the telephone, via fax machine, e-mail and in writing for the purpose of responding to inquiries and complaints and providing information and assistance.
• Daily contact with other County Departments and employees, government officials, giving or receiving information and resolving problems or responding to inquiries.
• Provides technical assistance to the public and elected officials.
• Attends training and seminars as deemed appropriate and necessary.
• Performs duties in a manner consistent with safe practices and safety policies.
• Maintain confidentiality as needed.
• Operate office equipment including, but not limited to, computer, calculator, copier, printer, multi-line phone system, fax machine, and digital camera.
• Demonstrate leadership and management skills, be goal orientated, and meet deadlines.
• Prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports.
• Understand and follow both verbal and written instructions and to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Perform manual labor, withstand variable weather conditions, and work extended and varying hours if needed.
• Maintain CAA Certificate by taking and passing courses from schools, conferences and workshops required by Department of Revenue and Regulation – If CAA is not maintained, you will no longer be eligible for the Appraiser/Assessor function.
• Ability to plan, organize and direct the work of others.
• Ability to continue learning and advancing the overall office functions. 

Job Environment:

• Position is a salaried position, which may result in working more than 40 hours per week and hours outside of the normal 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. duty day.
• Field work may lead to exposure to inclement weather such as; rain, snow, or extreme heat.
• Walking on uneven or steep surfaces and surfaces that may be ice packed, slick or muddy 
• Exposure to loud construction sites, may be required to wear safety gear at some locations.
• Carrying field supplies while doing appraisal work, such as camera, clip board, pencil, measuring tools etc.
• May require lifting in excess of 10 pounds.
• Must be able to operate a county vehicle.
• Normal vision is necessary for this position.

Education/Experience

• Graduation from High School or GED.
• General knowledge of legal descriptions, real estate and/or construction is helpful, but not necessary.
• A candidate for this position is required to have a valid driver’s license in good standing.
• In the event that there are two or more applicants with equal qualifications, preference shall be the applicant who is a resident of Davison County.

Click Apply Today for all the details to be considered.

Davison County is an Equal Opportunity Employer