Introduction
Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.
This classification is scheduled to receive general wage increases of 4% in July 2023 and 4% in July 2024.
POSITION INFORMATION
The Placer County Assessor's Office is currently hiring for one (1) vacant Assessment Technician I position. The eligible list established as a result of this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies as they arise, subject to position-specific requirements.
BENEFITS
Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees, including:
- Holidays: 14 paid holidays per year, 2 of which are floating holidays*
- Vacation leave: 10 days/year with ability to accrue 25 days/year
- Sick leave: 12 days/year*
- Cafeteria plan: 6% of employee’s salary will be contributed towards employee to use towards 401(k), dependent care, medical co-insurance, or cash
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance available for employees and dependents
- $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to employee
- CalPERS retirement plans
- Retiree medical insurance
- Deferred compensation
- Education allowance: up to $1,200 per year
- Bilingual incentive: incumbents may be eligible for bilingual incentive pay depending upon operational needs and certification of proficiency.
*Amounts will be prorated for part-time employees and employees hired after the first of the year.
The information above represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire about the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department. For a detailed listing of benefits, please click here to view General benefits.
For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.
DEFINITION
To provide para-professional and specialized technical duties related to property tax assessment and cost estimates within the Assessor's Office; to compile data for the assessment of taxable properties and preparation of the assessment roll; and to assist the professional appraisal staff by collecting, assembling, processing, and recording information pertaining to real and business personal property.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the entry level class in the Assessment Technician series. This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine and less complex tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may only have limited to no directly related work experience. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level. Employees work under general supervision while expanding their experience and learning more complex job tasks.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives immediate supervision from assigned management, professional or supervisory staff.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Perform paraprofessional and technical duties related to area of assignment including interpreting, analyzing, and determining compliance or acceptance of information and materials; prepare reports to document results of duties performed.
- Search and interpret current and archived assessment records, source documents, legal descriptions, and other relevant data; and work with property owners, title companies, attorneys, governmental agencies, and others to clarify and resolve sometimes conflicting ownership and reappraisal status of property.
- Confer with other divisions in the Assessor's Office concerning personal property assessments, changes in ownership, property descriptions and exemptions; confer with the Auditor's Office concerning roll corrections and with the Tax Collector's Office concerning tax bills.
- Answer difficult and/or technical non-value related questions from appraisal staff, title companies, attorneys, property owners and real estate agents regarding tax laws, assessment and appraisal rules and procedures, reappraisal status determination, and exemption requirements.
- Analyze tax statements and recorded deeds, property transfer regulations and other legal documents and conduct title searches to determine reappraisal status of property.
- Provide customer service regarding title transfers, ownership issues and reassessment exclusions.
- Review and process legal documents for change in ownership and potential assessment matters; make determinations regarding percentage of ownership and reassessment of transfers; screen legal documents for possible exclusions.
- Track property for change in ownership and report changes to State Controller’s Office.
- May perform field inspections as assigned.
- Initiate correction to tax roll based on changes to appraisal value.
- Update documents as required and make appropriate entries in computerized property management program; code and key detailed assessment information; edit, balance and correct assessment activity reports.
- Act as interdepartmental liaison relating to project or administrative support functions for the office and for compliance with County regulations and practices relating to those functions.
- Verify the accuracy of assessment data entered into computerized files; compare and proof information for completeness, accuracy, and conformance to standards; research changes, omissions and errors; adjust and correct records.
- Interpret, apply, and explain, policies and procedures related to area of assignment; respond to individuals requesting services related to area of assignment.
- Prepare correspondence and supporting documentation relating to area of assignment; maintain accurate records and files of program activities.
- Respond to public inquires in writing, on the telephone, or in person; refer to appropriate staff members for more complex information as appropriate; exhibit familiarity with functions of the County.
- Collect information from a variety of documents pertinent to assigned functional area of responsibility; compile data for reports; prepare routine reports as required.
- Maintain and monitor records and files; follow up on due dates; perform other monitoring functions to ensure timely completion of work.
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees, and the public, using principles of good customer service.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions with occasional field visits in outdoor weather. Positions may require traveling to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.
Experience and Training:
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience: No experience required. One year of responsible clerical experience desirable.
Training: Equivalent to completion of an associate’s degree with major course work in economics, business administration, construction, or a closely related field.
Required License or Certificate:
May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
NOTE: Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Human Resources Department.
NOTE: Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
- English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
- Filing and record keeping systems.
- Basic mathematical calculations.
- Personal computer and office equipment necessary for successful job performance
- Business letter and report writing.
Ability to:
- On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job. Intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and solve problems necessary to make calculations of dimensions and estimate costs; understand, recall and explain related laws, codes, programs, and procedures; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks, and focus on a single task for long periods of time.
- On a continuous basis, sit at desk for long periods of time and stand at the counter to answer questions of the public Intermittently walk, twist, stand, kneel, climb and bend to reach office equipment; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation; intermittently write or use a keyboard to communicate; see with sufficient visual acuity to perform essential job functions related to property tax assessments and cost estimates, and occasionally lift light weight.
- Learn and apply the principles and requirements set forth in the Revenue and Taxation Code.
- Interpret, explain, and apply complex laws, rules and regulations, operating policies, rules, and procedures, of assigned function.
- Establish and maintain basic financial records; perform mathematical calculations.
- Compile and maintain extensive records and files.
- Operate a personal computer in an on-line processing environment, utilize software application programs commonly used in the Assessor’s Office, analyze, and interpret related information.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Training & Experience Rating (100%)
Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Length of Probation:
All permanent appointments to this classification shall serve a probationary period of twelve (12) calendar months or two thousand eighty (2,080) hours, whichever is more.
CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT
Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.
SUBSTITUTE LISTS
The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.
EMPLOYEES OF OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES
Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.
Selection Plan
Tentative Recruitment Timeline:
Week of 3/27/23 Minimum Qualifications Screening
Week of 3/27/23 Training and Experience Rating
Week of 4/3/23 Eligible List Established
Conclusion
For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Jennifer Tucker, Administrative Technician, at JMTucker@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4667.