Title
Assessor recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Conceptually approve an increase to the Assessor’s personnel allocation of 3.2 full-time equivalent employees; and
2) Receive a presentation on Proposition 19, the Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act.
FUNDING: General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
With the acquisition of the new property system in 2018, the Assessor has been working to optimize work flows, job assignments and processes utilizing the new system, which processes work much differently than the old mainframe property system. The first step was to gain a solid understanding of how the new system operates and realign staff to fit with those processes. The realignment phase was initiated but not completed during Fiscal Year 2020-21;
In addition to the changes necessitated by the new system, several market and other factors have significantly altered work demands in the Assessor’s office since 2019. Many of them are a direct result of the pandemic. The exodus of homeowners from the urban areas of the state to rural areas has, and will continue to increase workload for staff in the Assessor’s office. The sudden and unexpected increase in the use of teleworking has also contributed to the migration to the foothill areas of the state. Increased demand for housing is contributing as homeowners, many of whom saw the equity gains of 2000-2005 evaporate during the great recession are unwilling to risk the recent gains and as a result, are selling. All of these factors are resulting in increases in real estate sales and activity levels. Most economic forecasts predict this activity level will last through the end of 2023 at a minimum. 2021 recordings that directly affect workloads in the Assessor’s office are up 50% over 2020 activity.
The passage of Prop 19 adds additional review, paperwork, analysis and reporting for support staff. Various sections of the new l...
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