This is administrative real property assessment and appraisal work, directing one of two sub-divisions of a city-wide real property assessment program for commercial, industrial and residential properties through subordinate supervisors. An employee in this class participates in the formulation of intermediate and long range program plans needed to secure the adequate collection of real property taxes and ensure adherence to professional standards and departmental policies and objectives. Work includes supervising and coordinating the real property assessment and appraisal activities of several units and determining the technical training needs of subordinate staff. Responsibility for either an assigned geographic district or a specialized functional area and interacting with other departmental officials to coordinate program activities are significant aspects of the work. Work is performed under the direction of the Real Property Assessment Administrator.

ALLOCATING FACTORS:
(The following conditions must be met for a position to be approved for this class.)

1. The positions must perform the work in the City's Board of Revision of Taxes.
2. The positions must supervise one of two Real Property Assessment sub-divisions through subordinate Real Property EvaluationSupervisors.
3. Only two positions can be allocated to the class.

• Directs, through subordinate supervisors, a staff of technical personnel engaged in assessing moderate value and high value complex properties within assigned geographical districts or specified functional areas; plans, delegates and reviews the work of subordinate supervisors; meets with subordinate staff to develop problem solving strategy and long-range and short-term goals; provides technical guidance to subordinate supervisors on difficult assessment problems.
• Meets with departmental managers to develop intermediate and long range assessment plans; determines new and revised policies and procedures and performance objectives; consults with department heads on recommendations for improving program direction and control; reports to the Real Property Assessment Administrator on progress of assigned sub-division; represents administrator at meetings.
• Identifies the training needs of staff; recommends the attendance of in-service training classes; ensures procedures used in the assessment program are adhered to by subordinates; coordinates activities of assessment staff with data processing units to ensure the proper utilization of automated appraisal techniques: monitors the maintenance of assessment records, deeds, permits and report logs; prepares special reports on aspects of the departments operations, programs and policies.
• Confers with property owners, attorneys, certified public accountants and appraisers to explain the process used to assess and arrive at market values; attends tax appeal hearings held by the Board of Revision of Taxes; testifies at tax appeal hearings, on the basis and factors used in determining the amount of assessment; participates in the review of reports prepared by evaluation to answer appeals prior to review by the Board of Revision Taxes.
• Supervises the review and estimation of market values; conducts ratio studies; monitors mass assessment and appraisal process for complex high value properties; participates in the review of financial disclosure statements and office reports of appraisal and assessment activities.
• Participates in the allocation of funds within the real property budget; determines the appropriation of expenditures; conducts and delegates the research of items included in the departmental budget; attends Finance and City Council meetings; contributes to the annual summary of division activities.
• Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• the methods and techniques of determining fair market value of real property.
• the laws and regulations relating to real property appraisal and assessment.
• current real property values and trends in value.
• the sales comparison approach to value.
• the cost approach to value.
• the income capitalization approach to value.
• building construction methods and analyzing costs.
• the assessment record maintenance procedures and standards.
• descriptive and inferential statistics including sampling techniques.
• supervisory principles and procedures.

• direct the activities of a sub-division of a real property assessment and appraisal program.
• read and interpret complex building plans and blueprints.
• interpret leases, deeds and income and expense statements.
• resolve conflicts with the general public using tact and diplomacy.
• plan, assign and review the work of a real property assessment and appraisal staff.
• present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, property owners, taxpayers and their representatives.
• make real property related mathematical computations.
• establish and maintain good public relations.

EDUCATION

• Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university which includes or has been supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester hours of course work in real estate appraisal or assessment.

• Four years of experience appraising and assessing real property, including residential, commercial and industrial properties within an assigned district.

• Two years of experience supervising a unit of real property evaluators engaged in appraisal and assessment for the Board of Revision of Taxes.

Any equivalent combination of experience and training determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department and which includes the specific experience described above.

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

• Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of employment as a Real Property Assessment Assistant Administrator and possession of one of the following certificates:

• Pennsylvania Real Estate Evaluation Certificate issue by the Pennsylvania State Tax Evaluation Board.
• Certification by any member group of the appraisal foundation including course work and examinations.
• Any acceptable authorization and a Pennsylvania State Real Estate Brokers License.

PAY RANGE: EP26
Class Established:
  CSC - 9/1991 ; Ad Board - 10/1991

RPJ/ps