Description

THE ASSESSOR:
California tax law directs the Assessor to discover, inventory and assess property for tax purposes and to keep a public record of this information. The primary mission of the Ventura County Assessor is the production of the local assessment roll that reflects the current status of ownerships, owners' addresses, and values of all locally assessed property.

THE POSITION:
Under immediate supervision (the Appraiser Trainee) or general supervision (the Appraiser I and II), the incumbent performs progressively complex assignments in the appraisal of real property for ad valorem taxes; and performs related duties as required.

At each successive level, incumbents are expected to demonstrate greater initiative, self-direction, independent judgment and conflict resolution with less supervision than preceding levels.

The Appraiser Trainee, $26.79 to $36.22 per hour, is the entry-level class. Incumbents receive training and assist higher-level appraisers in performing routine field and office duties involved in the appraisal of real property. This is a trainee/entry level classification, and Veteran's Points may apply to eligible applicants. Presentation of discharge papers or a certified copy thereof for inspection by the Director-Human Resources prior to the final filing date of the announcement shall be required of all applicants seeking Veteran's preference credit.

The Appraiser I, $27.98 to $39.14 per hour, is the intermediate level class. Incumbents appraise residential subdivisions, tracts and areas with an active market and a fair degree of comparability among properties.

The Appraiser II, $32.27 to $45.24 per hour, is the journey-level class. Incumbents independently performs appraisal work on a wide range of residential as well as non-residential real properties (i.e., commercial, industrial and rural) applying all three (3) approaches to valuation (cost, comparative sales and income).

WHAT WE OFFER

• 
  General Salary Increase – 4% effective 12/24/2023 and 3.50% effective 12/22/2024.
• Educational Incentive – An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate's degree.
• Vacation Accrual – Initially 14 days per year; after approximately 5 years of service increasing to 19 days a year; after approximately 11 years increasing to 20 days per year and then increasing 1 day a year through 15 years of service; topping out at 26 days per year after approximately 20 years of service with a maximum accumulation of 400 hours.
• Vacation Leave Redemption – After 20,800 hours (approximately 10 years) of continuous County service the ability to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
• Sick Leave – Full time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
• Deferred Compensation – Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans – You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increase spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses.
• Pension Plan – Participation in the County's defined pension plan, which has reciprocity with CalPERS.
• Holidays – 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.

Appraiser Trainee/I/II is represented by the Ventura Employees Association (VEA) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: May 12, 2023
CLOSING DATE: May 25, 2023
APPLICATION REVIEW COMPLETE: May 30, 2023
WRITTEN EXAMINATION: June 6, 2023

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• 
  Examines new and existing single-family homes, new residential tracts for types and quality of construction;
• Classifies structures according to shape, size, types of construction and estimated costs, reads and interprets blueprints;
• Obtains, verifies, and analyzes pertinent sales information, income and cost data to arrive at value conclusions;
• Contacts realtors, builders, lending agencies, city planning offices and property owners to gather information pertaining to factors which affect market values;
• Identifies and recognizes view factors and negative influences such as railroads, freeways, drainage channels, or adjacent commercial uses;
• Determines depreciation factors and their effects on market value;
• Performs other duties as required.

In addition to the above duties, the Level II may perform the following:

• Examines multi-family residential, commercial, industrial and rural properties for types of quality of construction;
• Performs cost, market and income appraisals;
• Determines cost trends, unit cost and market factors utilizing information on construction costs, sales, rents, leases, business income and expenses;
• Completes appraisals on structures affected by calamities such as fires, floods, landslides, and earthquakes;
• Explains assessments to taxpayers; if necessary, appears before the Assessment Appeals Board to defend assessments.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE
Progressively responsible experience in real property appraisal which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge and abilities.

The required knowledge and abilities also can be obtained by completion of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution

AND:

Appraiser Trainee: No experience required.
Appraiser I: One (1) year of experience performing duties comparable to that of an Appraiser Trainee.
Appraiser II: Three (3) years of experience as a real property appraiser. Two (2) years of which must be at a level comparable to that of an Appraiser I.

Substitution:
Professional experience within the last ten (10) years that demonstrates application of analytical methodologies or statistical techniques to real property appraisals may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of four (4) years. Experience as an Assessor's Technician or equivalent class in Ventura County Assessor's Office may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of two (2) years.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 
  Driver's License: A valid California driver's license is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.
• Certification: Appointees must attain State certification as an Appraiser for property tax purposes within one (1) year of appointment. Failure to pass the State Board of Equalization Certification Examination within one (1) year may result in termination.
• Conflict of Interest Statement: In accordance with the Political Reform Act of 1974, incumbents at all levels will be required to file an annual Conflict of Interest Statement.

If you are using education to qualify the verification of completion of college coursework and/or a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required.

• Submit your college diploma or transcripts/grade reports from an accredited college or university which shows your name, the conferred date of your degree and the major area of study; submit within 3 days of the closing date of this recruitment.
• Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• If you need additional time to submit transcripts, contact the analyst conducting the recruitment for an extension.
• Degree(s) from a foreign institution require an academic credential evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency.
• If the name on this documentation is different from the name on your application, include documents that show the name change (e.g., a marriage certificate)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Some to thorough knowledge (depending on level in series) of: state and local laws relating to property valuations; appraisal methods and techniques; the effect of economic trends on building construction, practices, materials and the other factors involved in the valuation of land, financial records and accounting practices relating to depreciation and income capitalization, current social, political, economic, and scientific developments and trends; policies and procedures of the Assessor's Office.

Some to thorough ability (depending on level in series) to: make appraisals; assemble and analyze appraisal data; analyze factors influencing the changing valuation of real property; make arithmetical calculations, charts, and sketches in connection with appraisal work; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with persons contacted in the course of work; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; prepare written correspondence and reports; print and write legibly and communicate effectively; read maps and make aerial map analyses; work independently or with minimum supervision. Operate a personal computer in an on-line processing environment; and utilize Microsoft Office software application programs.

Supplemental Information
Appraisers are required to conduct field appraisal work and may be exposed to hazardous conditions, inclement weather and uncooperative and/or hostile property owners. Incumbents are required to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, squat, twist, reach and occasionally work on irregular surfaces.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023.

To apply online, please refer to our website at www.ventura.org/jobs. If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Applicants must provide sufficient information under the Education/Work experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire to determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying
All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining qualifications for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.

APPLICATION SCREENING – qualifying
Candidates' applications, resumes, or other required documentation will be evaluated on a comparative basis against pre-established criterion. Those individuals whose materials best indicate possession of the stated requirements, may be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100%
A job-related written examination will be conducted to test candidates' knowledge of Mathematics; Directional Relationships; Collation, Tabulation and Data Analysis; Reading Comprehension; Public Relations; Calculations, Directions, Progression Analysis; and English Usage. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST
Applicants successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of six (6) months. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies within the Assessor's Office. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy.

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level(s) without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

Promotion to the Appraiser I and II levels will be non-competitive subject to successful completion of the requirements specified in the Ventura County Assessor's Office "Career Ladder" Program.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Judy Larson by email at judy.larson@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 654-3611.