A shortage of qualified staff has prompted the Cowley County appraiser’s office to seek a 30 day extension to mail property tax valuation notices.
The notices are supposed to go out March 1. The extension granted by the state property valuation department means Cowley County property owners shouldn’t expect to find their notices in mailboxes until after April 1.
“We just can’t find people with the training they need to have,” County Appraiser Theresa Waite said. “Other counties have the same problem.”
The county hasn’t had a commercial property appraiser since the former appraiser’s unexpected death several years ago. County commissioners recently hired McCully & Associates to handle this year’s commercial valuation services for an estimated $15,000. The company provided the same services in 2007.
“They’re not (working) just for a couple of months. They do different studies and analysis for us during the year,” Waite said. “During certain times of the year, they’re here on site for a while. So, actually, they’re helping us the whole year.”
Waite hasn’t appointed a deputy since she was named the appraiser. Again, she cited the lack of qualified people as her reason for failing to appoint a deputy. If she fills the position from the present staff, then she’ll have to deal with a staff vacancy, she said.
The training is not available at a two or four year college. A new hire would be trained by staff in the office on the computer software and would have to take classes offered by the International Association of Assessing Officers.
Basic on-the-job training will take about a year – maybe two, Waite said. “Those type of positions take several years training,” she said.
Notices will be mailed for 20,550 pieces of property in the county. Some people own several pieces of property. Waite said she has noticed some increases. Information will be included with the notices on how to appeal the valuations.
“Increases are based upon what the market is doing – based on what the cost of construction is doing – a variety of things,” Waite said.
Tax revenue to fund the new county jail is from a sales tax and not a property tax so the jail won’t affect property valuations, she said.
Personal property renditions were mailed Jan. 1 and covered such property as mobile homes, marine and boat trailers, jet skies, boat motors, 16 and 20 M vehicles, commercial and industrial machinery and equipment and non-highway motor vehicles. Mark any changes on the back of the form, sign it and return it by March 17 to avoid a penalty.
Call Waite’s office at the county courthouse if an additional form is needed.
