Commercial Appraiser

About the role

Recognized as one of the best places to work in Southeast Minnesota for three consecutive years, at Olmsted County every role helps to foster a vibrant community where everyone thrives. Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, driving public service excellence and community well-being. We don’t just offer a job, we offer a career filled with purpose, growth, and fulfillment. Our benefits package ensures your wellbeing, while career advancement opportunities and professional development empower you to reach your full potential. Join us, and you'll be part of a purpose-driven team where your work truly makes a difference. Together, we build a sustainable, healthy, and welcoming community.

Minimum Qualifications

• Expected salary range $37.76 to $50.42. Full salary range $37.76 to $63.07.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, real estate or related field and three (3) years of experience in a similar position as listed in the work functions.
• OR Combination of education and experience equivalent to seven (7) years of experience in a similar position as listed in the work functions.
• Regular and reliable attendance is a necessary component of job/position.
• Individuals required to use County vehicles and equipment must have a valid driver’s license and be free of any major traffic violations for the last three (3) years.

Required Special Qualifications

• Licensure by the Minnesota State Board of Assessors as a Certified Minnesota Assessor with Income Qualification (CMA-IQ) or licensure as a Certified General Real Property Appraiser from the Minnesota Department of Commerce or equivalent licensing agency upon employment.
• Must achieve licensure as an Accredited Minnesota Assessor (AMA) within two (2) years of hire.

Desirable Qualifications

• Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor (SAMA) from the Minnesota State Board of Assessors.
• Designation as an IAAO Assessment Administration Specialist (AAS), Certified Assessment Evaluator (CAE), Cadastral Mapping Specialist (CMS), Personal Property Specialist (PPS), and/or Residential Evaluation Specialist (RES), or appraisal designation (MAI, SRPA, SRA, RM) from the Appraisal Institute.

Nature of Work

Under general supervision, appraises commercial, industrial, multi-family, and special use properties, including complex income-producing properties for tax assessment purposes. Performs field inspections, analyzes applicable real estate sales transactions, applies accurate sales data in the valuation process, responds to taxpayer concerns and acts as a mentor/advisor to other appraisers. Represents Olmsted County at local and County boards of Appeal and Equalization as well as Tax Court. Supports a diverse, respectful, and inclusive workplace.

Examples of Work

• Appraises commercial, industrial, apartment, complex special purpose, public utility or other property using mass appraisal statistical modeling techniques, direct capitalization and/or discounted cash flow analysis.
• Responds to complex or difficult questions and concerns from taxpayers, attorneys and tax representatives regarding the assessment process, property valuation, classification and tax calculations.
• Conducts market research by gathering data including actual income and expense rates, occupancy levels, rental rates and capitalization rates to determine potential market performance of income producing properties.
• Verifies and compiles data on all transactions of assigned properties. Verifies sales by interviewing buyers, sellers, and operators of real estate to determine their validity for inclusion in the Department of Revenue annual sales ratio study.
• Works with other appraisers on appropriate application of appraisal/assessing techniques, and provide work direction to others.
• Investigates and reviews requests for reduction of assessed valuation or change in classification.
• Complete review appraisals including Market and Income Proformas.
• Oversees appeal processes and presents on behalf of the County before local and County boards of appeal and equalization; prepares cases and testifies in Tax Court.
• Responsible for the litigation of tax court petitions. Handles all aspects of commercial, industrial, apartment, and special purpose property tax petitions including: reviewing compliance with income data disclosure, negotiating fair settlements with tax attorneys, preparing narrative appraisals, and defending values through testimony in Minnesota State Tax Court.
• Maintains a complete record of each complex property.
• Inspects land, existing and newly constructed properties to gather physical building attributes and characteristics.
• Provides information, prepares property splits, map descriptions and participates in requests for application forms.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the laws, principles, methods and techniques of property appraisal.
• Knowledge of the statistical methodologies involved in the mass appraisal of commercial, industrial, apartment and special use properties, as well as, the State mandated guidelines monitoring the overall level of assessment.
• Ability to analyze factors which influence the value of property and to exercise sound judgment in determining property values.
• Ability to guide and review the work of other property appraisers.
• Ability to implement appraisal techniques with mass appraisal modeling to establish annual market valuations of all commercial, industrial, apartment and special use properties.
• Ability to perform complex, difficult and controversial property appraisal and assessment duties in an independent, effective manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with real estate professionals, attorneys, local officials, other employees and the public.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Office environment
• Outdoors environment
• Exposure to weather
• Sitting, standing, walking, reaching
• Climbing, crouching, balancing
• Typing/data entry
• Talking, hearing
• Operate vehicle
• Close and distance vision
• Color vision, depth perception, field of vision
• Sedentary (exert up to 10 pounds of force)
• Light effort (exert up to 20 pounds of force)

Benefits

• Paid Time Off
  • Employees over .5 FTE accrue Paid Time Off (PTO) based on length of service:
    • First year to 5 years of service – accrue up to 23 days
    • 6 to 10 years of service – accrue up to 25 days
    • 11 to 15 years of service – accrue up to 27.5 days
    • 16 to 20 years of service – accrue up to 30 days
    • 21 to 26 years of service – accrue up to 32.5 days
    • Over 26 years of service – accrue up to 35 days
  • Employees begin accruing PTO on their first day of work and can use it as soon as accrued with supervisor approval.
• Flexible Time Leave
  • Up to 28 hours (prorated by FTE) of paid FTL at regular base pay each calendar year.
  • Commencement of Employment FTL Hours:
    • Between January 1 and June 30 – 28 Hours
    • Between July 1 and August 31 – 16 Hours
    • Between September 1 and November 30 – 8 Hours
    • Between December 1 and December 31 – 0 Hours
• Paid Holidays
  • New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (4 hours when December 24th falls on a Monday – Thursday only), Christmas Day
• Employee Health And Insurance Benefits
  • Health, Dental, Vision, Basic Life, Health Care Spending Account and Dependent Care Spending Account benefits become effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
  • Health Insurance
    • The self-insured Olmsted County Employees’ Health Plan is administered by Medica.
    • Access to all providers in the Medica Health Plan Solutions network, including Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center.
    • Comprehensive preventive care program; 80% co-insurance on most services (after deductible).
    • Access to Nice Healthcare for no-cost virtual and in-home appointments, labs, x-rays, and more.
    • Base in-network deductible of $1,500/person, $4,500/family with opportunity to earn a reward to lower the deductible to $500/person, $1,500/family.
    • In-network out-of-pocket maximum of $3,000/person, $6,000/family for those who earn the reward.
    • Monthly Rates For Healthcare Coverage:
      • Single health coverage – $110.00 per month or $55.00 per pay period.
      • Employee Plus Children – $500 per month or $250 per pay period.
      • Employee Plus One coverage – $546.00 per month or $273.00 per pay period.
      • Family coverage – $690.00 per month or $345 per pay period.
  • Nice Healthcare
    • No premium to the employee.
    • Coverage available for employees enrolled in the health plan and their eligible dependents (even if not enrolled in the health plan).
  • Prescription Drug Plan
    • Administered by Alluma; covered prescriptions based on the Alluma Advantage Formulary.
    • Prescription co-insurance is 25% or 40% depending on formulary status, with opportunity to lower co-insurance through mail order.
    • Both retail and mail order prescriptions apply toward an annual $2,400/person or $4,800/family out-of-pocket limit.
  • Dental Insurance
    • Self-insured and administered by Delta Dental.
    • Diagnostic & Prevent