PROPERTY APPRAISER (Abolished)

The Property Appraiser is the first step of the Property Appraiser promotional series.  Promotion to the next step, Senior Property Appraiser, is possible after education and experience requirements are met.  Note:  Individuals with previous assessment experience may be hired at the Senior Property Appraiser level. 

The eligible list resulting from this examination may be used to fill similar City of Milwaukee positions.  

The Property Appraiser is responsible for the valuation of all classes of property.  The Property Appraiser is responsible for supporting the vision and mission of the Assessor’s Office and accomplishing the goals and objectives of the strategic plan as they relate to the assigned duties.  The position functions under the direct supervision of a Division Manager.

• Discover, analyze and list all properties within the City of Milwaukee.
• Estimate equitable market values for the production of an annual assessment roll.        
• Appraise real and personal property for assessment purposes using the cost, market and income approaches.        
• Review estimated market values provided by the Assessor’s Office Valuation Systems and finalize property values.        
• Inspect property (residences and buildings), new construction and major improvements to existing structures to establish value. Prepare documentation of completed inspections.      
• Analyze trends in sales prices, construction costs and rents, to assess property values and determine accuracy of assessments.         
• Explain assessed values to property owners, leasing agents, managers and legal representatives.        
• Perform assessment reviews.  Investigate assessment appeals.  Make recommendations to the Board of Assessors. Present testimony before the Board of Review and Circuit Court.      
• Measure, inspect and list the characteristics necessary to determine property values.    
• Classify property by its use, according to the Assessor’s Office standards.        
• Gather information about property by communicating with buyers and sellers, fielding sales, conducting rental surveys, examining leases, noting building occupancy and obtaining other economic information necessary to estimate market values of real property.        
• Provide prompt, courteous and customer focused service, information and assistance to department employees, the public, other city departments and other agencies.         
• Maintain all office forms, reports and records.         
• Participate and assist with training and retraining of other staff.         
• Handle irate/upset property owners in person, over the phone and by e-mail.  

Reasonable accommodations requested by qualified individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

1.  Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Real Estate, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Communications or Graphic Information Systems (GIS) or closely related field, including at least one successfully completed course in Real Estate

OR         

Property Assessment Certification or Associate’s Degree in Real Estate from an accredited college and two years of professional level experience in property assessment or property appraisal

OR         

Four years of professional level experience in property assessment or property appraisal.  

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.  

IMPORTANT NOTE: To receive credit for college, transcripts are required and must be received by the application period closing date. College transcripts should be attached to your online application. Applications without transcripts attached will be considered incomplete and will be rejected. 

Your transcript must be legible and include the following information:  the university or college name, your name, the degree completed (if applicable) and the date the degree was completed.

2.  Certification by the State of Wisconsin at the Property Appraiser, Assessor I or Assessor II level under the State Assessor’s Certification Program within 6 months of appointment. 

3.  Valid driver’s license and availability of a properly insured personal vehicle for use on the job required at time of appointment and throughout employment.  Mileage reimbursement is provided.

Bilingual in Spanish or Hmong.

• Knowledge of principles, methods and techniques of real and personal property assessment and valuation.
• Knowledge of basic mathematics such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Knowledge of materials and methods involved in the construction and repair of houses and buildings.
• Knowledge of Wisconsin State Statute Chapter 70 and property tax laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of computer applications and software such as:  Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Oral communication skills to actively listen to and communicate information effectively to others.
• Written communication skills to develop professional/technical correspondence and reports.
• Interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships with diverse groups of people.
• Planning and organizing skills to accomplish goals and meet objectives.
• Judgment and decision making skills.
• Problem solving and problem recognition skills.
• Ability to work effectively under stress.
• Ability to work under statutory and office deadlines.
• Ability to travel to work locations throughout the City.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with taxpayers, general public, employees, and other departments.
• Ability to manage electronic communications.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to use computer equipment and software such as a computer, scanner, copier, digital camera and phone.
• Ability to visually see details of property during inspections.

(2DN) Property Appraiser:  The current starting salary is $49,077 for City of Milwaukee residents.  The non-resident starting salary is $48,352 annually.  

(2HN) Senior Property Appraiser:  The current starting salary is $62,606 for City of Milwaukee residents.  The non-resident starting salary is $61,681. Certain criteria must be met to achieve the later steps of the Senior Property Appraiser range. 

THE SELECTION PROCESS will be job related and will consist of one or more of the following: education and experience evaluation; written, oral, or performance tests, or other assessment methods. The Department of Employee Relations reserves the right to call only the most qualified candidates to oral and performance examinations. Oral examinations may include written exercises. Selection process component weights will be determined by further analysis of the job.  

INITIAL FILING DATE - The examination will be held as soon as practical after August 21, 2015. Receipt of applications may be discontinued at any time after this date without prior notice.  However, recruitment may continue until the needs of the City have been met. Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time, and place of the examination. Unless otherwise required by law, the City of Milwaukee will not provide alternative test administration. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee.

NOTE: The City’s residency requirement set forth in City Charter 5-02 is under litigation. Even though the City is legally able to enforce the current residency requirements based on a recent Wisconsin Court of Appeals decision, the City has agreed to continue to suspend enforcement of the ordinance during the time it may take to know whether the Wisconsin Supreme Court will review the case.  Once the Supreme Court refuses review or affirms the Court of Appeals decision, the City intends to fully enforce the ordinance. Consequently, employees who disregard the requirements of the ordinance do so at their own risk. Applicants for City of Milwaukee positions should understand the City’s commitment to its residency requirement. During this period of uncertainty it is important to take that into account when submitting an application and more importantly when deciding to accept an employment offer.  Please contact (414) 286–3751 if you have questions regarding your individual circumstances as part of the application and/or selection process.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

• APPLICATIONS and further information may be accessed by visiting www.jobaps.com/MIL.  
• Applications and transcripts should be submitted no later than the deadline listed above.
• If you would like assistance completing an application, please contact the Department of Employee Relations at (414) 286-3751 or staffinginfo@milwaukee.gov.
• The Department of Employee Relations is located in City Hall, 200 E Wells St, Room 706, Milwaukee, WI 53202.