The following are the responsibilities and duties of the Assessor of the town.
(A) Basic function.
(1) Plans and coordinates town-wide assessments of real and personal property preparatory to compiling the Grand List for taxation purposes and related activities;
(2) Adheres to mandated General Statute schedules;
(3) Administers revaluations, office and budget procedures, compiling the Grand List by verifying the Town Clerk’s data; and
(4) Monitors and confirms computer data related to the Grand List.
(B) Principal responsibilities and duties.
(1) Discovers, lists and measures all properties; analyzes location and structural parameters to compute value; checks building permits, classifies all new buildings and additions, reviews new houses following issuance of certificate of occupancy. Performs actual physical inspection of properties as required;
(2) Keeps abreast of current construction costs, state statutes and court decisions governing assessments of real and personal property; testifies on behalf of the town against lawsuits related to value assessments;
(3) Plots and drafts subdivisions and revised boundary lines on existing aerial maps, computes and classifies areas to established values, reviews and processes applications for land classifications; plots additions and revisions to street numbering maps, reproduces maps as required;
(4) Establishes values of unpriced motor vehicles for regular and supplemental lists according to state code letters; prepares, submits and verifies computer service data for all property assessments and motor vehicle lists;
(5) Administers all programs of exemption; oversees and verifies all work pertaining to ten-year revaluations by independent agencies; adheres to schedules, forms, reports and applications required by state statutes, town officials, businesses, agencies and individuals. Serves as advisor to Board of Tax Review; and
(6) Determines and controls related office procedures, prepares annual department budget; responsible for related legal notices and press releases.
(C) Required knowledge, skills and abilities.
(1) Considerable knowledge of theory, principles, methods and techniques of real and personal property assessment;
(2) Ability to prepare and delineate aerial maps and other surveys;
(3) Ability to deal effectively and tactfully with associates and the general public, supervise and persuade others and clearly express recommendations and decisions both orally and in writing; and
(4) Ability to analyze problems and develop required reports; adheres to schedules, forms, reports and applications required by State Statutes and others.
(Ord. passed 10-9-1984)