This position is governed under the agreement between the Town of Litchfield and the Litchfield Supervisors Union, affiliated with CSEA, SEIU Local 2001 with a salary of $90,000/year.

The Town offers Health/Dental/Vision through the CT State Partnership Plan, generous time off allowances, and an employer contributed 401 (A) plan.

If you are interested in the position, you must complete an application. Resume will not be accepted in lieu of an application.

Individuals must be able to pass a thorough background check, including DMV, references, pre-employment physical and drug screen.

Application will be accepted until a sufficient number have been received.

Please submit your application, resume and cover letter to nyarrish@townoflitchfield.org or mail to:
Town of Litchfield
Selectman’s Office
74 West St,
Litchfield, CT 06759

BASIC FUNCTION
Reporting to the First Selectman, the incumbent plans and coordinates town-wide assessments of real and personal property preparatory to compiling the Grand List for taxation purposes and related activities; adheres to mandated General Statutes schedules; administers revaluations, office, and budget procedures; compiles the Grand List by verifying the Town Clerk’s data; monitors and confirms data to the Grand List.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Discovers, lists, and measures all the properties; analyzes location and structural parameters to compute values; checks building permits; classifies all new buildings and additions; reviews new houses following issuance of Certificate of Occupancy; issues house numbers and serves as Chairman of the street numbering committee.
• Keeps abreast of current construction costs; testifies on behalf of the Town in lawsuits related to the value assessments; investigates records, transfers, and related data to ensure compliance with regulations.
• Establishes values of unpriced motor vehicles for regular and supplemental lists according to State code letters; prepares, submits, and verifies data for all real and personal property assessments.
• 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.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Work requires independent judgment in the execution and completion of varied clerical and technical duties.  Accuracy in typing and recording data.
• Considerable skill in the performance of clerical duties, including the ability to arrange tabular material in a clear and accurate manner.
• Ability to fully operate a variety of state-of-the-art office equipment, including departmental computers, and to adapt and work with technological changes in office equipment and computer software to secure more effective and efficient operations.
• General knowledge of the principles of governmental policies and procedures and working knowledge of the Assessor’s duties, general statutes, and regulations.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work so as to complete projects in accordance with established due dates.
• Determines and controls related office procedures, prepares annual department budget; responsible for related legal notices and press releases, computerized Grand List and tax records; attends Board of Tax Review meetings.
• Supervises the Assistant to the Tax Assessor
• Considerable knowledge of theory, principles, methods, and techniques of real and personal property assessment.
• Ability to maintain, prepare and delineate aerial maps and other surveys.
• Ability to deal effectively and tactfully with other Town Personnel and the general public, supervise and persuade others, and clearly express recommendations and decisions both orally and in writing.
• Ability to analyze problems and develop required reports, adheres to schedules, forms, reports and applications required by State Statutes and others.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The work is primarily of an intellectual nature but requires a variety of physical capabilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk and talk or hear, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
• Employee must be able to access all levels of a construction site and traverse uneven terrain.
• The employee must be able to drive a vehicle.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, peripheral and depth vision.
• This position requires the ability to operate a keyboard and calculator at efficient speed.
• The employee must be able to hear normal sounds, distinguish sound as voice patterns and communicate through human speech using American English.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have and maintain a Certified Connecticut Municipal Assessor (CCMA) and either of the following combinations of qualifications and experience.
  1. Completion of two years of college plus two to three years of responsible experience in municipal assessment or property appraisal experience or any combination of related experience and training including two to three years’ experience in computerized assessment procedures.
     OR
  2. Five years of responsible experience in municipal assessment or property appraisal experience or any combination of related experience and training including two to three years’ experience in computerized assessment procedures.

Updated (6/19/2024)

** Update: Successful candidates must obtain Connecticut Municipal Assessor II within six months of employment. This certification is crucial to our operations, and proof of enrollment or intent to pursue it will need to be provided upon hire. **

POSITION DEFINITION

This is very responsible technical and administrative work involving direction of the real and personal property assessment function for municipal tax purposes.

Work involves responsibility for the evaluation of real and personal property and for the preparation of the annual Grand List. Duties include field inspections, assessment policy recommendations, department planning and the direction and administration of department activities. This position also has the responsibility for making difficult property assessment technical decisions. The work requires that the employee have thorough knowledge, skill and ability in all phases of property assessment work.

Works under the general direction of the Finance Director and in accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes, rules and regulations pertaining to property assessments.

Supervises employees involved in the assessment processes and providing related services to the public.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Conducts field inspections of property. Measures structures or additions/improvements to existing structures. Reviews and updates field cards and related records. Calculates appraisal value.
• Plans, organizes and directs department operations. Assigns work and responsibilities to staff. Oversees and evaluates assessment activities such as discovery of taxable property, residential property valuation, determination of property ownership, elderly tax relief and other mandated programs, preparation of Grand List and periodic reevaluation studies.
• Analyzes and values residential, commercial and industrial property by computing replacement costs or analyzing financial statements. Reads and researches transfer deeds where land divisions are indicated and recalculates property values. Utilizes and maintains valuations data management systems.
• Responds to taxpayer request for a review of assessment where property has been damaged by fire and recalculates property values if warranted.
• Maintains sales library. Reviews actual sales of property within the municipality and ascertains if the transaction will be considered as arms length or usable sale by the State of Connecticut for determining the equalized Grand List. Computes sale-assessment statistics and determines the sales ratio.
• Directs the updating and maintenance of engineering maps and variety of assessment records.
• Formulates and implements department policies, work methods and procedures.
• Evaluates new methods and techniques of assessment.
• Advises appropriate municipal administration boards, commissions and departments on assessment matters.
• Participates in assessment appeals by property owners and defends the department’s findings. Provides testimony in litigation pertaining to assessments.
• Oversees the compilation of assessment data and the preparation of a variety of reports.
• Prepares the annual division budget, presents and defends budget requests.
• Controls the expenditure of fund allocation within constraints of approved budget.
• Participates in employee selection, training, counseling and discipline.
• Makes final determination regarding taxpayer eligibility for a variety of tax relief adjustment or abatement programs.
• Recommends selection of reevaluation organizations based on research of companies which have responded to the municipality’s requests for proposals. Provides input for the preparation of a contract with the organization selected.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Thorough knowledge of property assessment principles and practices.
• Thorough knowledge of property assessment laws.
• Considerable knowledge of data processing technology as applied to a municipal assessment operation.
• Thorough ability in oral and written communication.
• Considerable ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, coworkers, subordinates, property owners and the general public.
• Considerable ability to complete work within deadlines.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS AND LICENSING

A bachelor’s degree in business, accounting or public administration from an accredited college or university, plus five to seven years increasingly responsible experience in real and personal property assessment, including supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must have State of Connecticut certification as a Connecticut Municipal Assessor II and a valid Connecticut driver’s license.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Click here for full job description and on-line application

The Town of East Hartford is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Re-posted: May 13, 2024. Salary Updated.

Excerpt from the Town Charter.  Click here to print and/or view.

Tax Collector, Tax Assessor, purchasing authority, agent of the town deposit fund. The First Selectman shall appoint a Tax Collector and a Tax Assessor for terms coextensive with that of the First Selectman. The Director of Finance shall be the purchasing authority. The Director of Finance shall be the agent of the town deposit fund. Certificates of appointment relating to the Tax Collector and Tax Assessor shall be executed by the First Selectman and filed with and recorded by the Town Clerk. The Tax Collector shall have and exercise the powers and duties conferred and imposed by law on Tax Collectors. The Tax Assessor shall have and exercise the powers and duties conferred and imposed by law on Boards of Assessors.

Section 1. Office of First Selectman; Election and Qualifications. 

A First Selectman shall be elected at the Town election to hold office for a term of two (2) years and until his/her successor shall be elected and qualified.

Description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

•  As department head is responsible for the appraisal of real and personal property within the Town.
•  Administers State laws affecting real and personal property assessments.
•  Implements State and Town tax relief programs for senior citizens.
•  Directs work methods and procedures, personally handling complex and unusual cases.
•  Composes necessary correspondence and oversees the maintenance of records required by the office.
•  Overall responsibility for Grand List as required by law.
•  Supervises changes to Assessor’s maps.
•  Prepares annual reports for State and Town.
•  Formulates, defends and monitors budget for department.
•  Gives testimony in court cases relating to assessment matters.
•  Reviews sales of real property for the purpose of State grants.
•  Keeps updated on changes in regulations.
•  Related tasks as assigned by the Director of Finance.

Examples of Duties

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY:

• Knowledge of assessment techniques in determining real estate and personal property values.
• Knowledge of laws and ordinances governing assessment practices and collection of property taxes.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective supervisory relationship with staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relations with the public.
• Must be able to become Certified Connecticut Municipal Assessor.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

Certification of CCMA designation preferred, and/or a four (4) year college degree in Business Administration and over three (3) years experience in an Assessor’s office.

Supplemental Information 

Address

5866 Main Street
Trumbull, Connecticut, 06611

203-452-5040

http://www.trumbull-ct.gov

This is very responsible technical and administrative work involving the direction of a municipal property assessment operation.

Work involves responsibility for the valuation of real and personal property and for the preparation of the annual grand list.

Duties include policy recommendation, department planning and direction and supervision of staff activities. This position also has the responsibility for making the most difficult property assessment technical decisions. The work requires that the employee have thorough knowledge, skill and ability in every phase of property assessment work.

Position works under the general direction of the Board of Assessors.

Analyzes and values residential and commercial property through pricing schedules.

Prepares the annual department budget and presents and defends budget and controls the expenditure of department fund allocations within the constraints of approved budgets.

Assigns, evaluates and trains departmental personnel.

Responds to tax payers inquiries regarding assessments and programs available to them. Advises aggrieved taxpayers of their appeal rights. Participates in assessment appeals by property owners and defined findings.

Performs all related work as required.

Benefit Conditions: Waiting period may apply

Education:

• Bachelor’s (Preferred)

Experience:

• Assessment appraisal: 5 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• Assessors license (CCMA Required)

80 Main St, Terryville, CT 06786

Application and further information

Subjects of Examination:

Oral Examination Interview 100%. Candidates must achieve a passing score on the Oral Examination Interview.

Method of Selection:

In compliance with the City of Bridgeport’s Charter, the Personnel Director shall certify to the Mayor, the names of the top three passing scores on the employment list. The Mayor shall make the appointment and shall notify the Civil Service Commission and the Director of Finance of such appointment. The person so appointed shall hold office for a term of five (5) years from the effective date of his/her appointment but may be removed for just cause.
A person holding the position of Tax Assessor may, only within 150 days of the end of his/her term, be reappointed by the Mayor for an additional term of five (5) years, beginning upon the expiration of the Assessor’s current term, without the need for further examination or testing. There shall be no limit on the number of times a person may be re-appointed.

Application:

Each candidate must submit a cover letter and resume to the Office of the Civil Service Commission via email to COB.Exams@bridgeportct.gov.

Full Details on the City Website https://www.bridgeportct.gov