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Today marks change for county assessor |
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Tuesday, 01 July 2008 |
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By Rusty Nixon
Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Today everything changes for Marshall County Assessor Debbie Dunning and her entire staff.
Part of the state’s new tax system overhaul sees the county assessor’s office taking over all of the duties of township assessors, beginning today. Marshall County has 10 township assessors, who, after today, have nothing really to do. All elected assessors will continue to be paid.
“I think we’re prepared,” said Dunning of her office and their efforts to gear up for the added work. “We’ve known this is coming and we’ve been working hard for the past couple of months to be ready.”
One reason that Dunning is confident is her staff. Already full of certified and capable assessors, the office was also allowed to hire two new full-time employees and a receptionist.
“We were very lucky to hire a new employee who was a deputy in Cass County’s assessor’s office. She and her husband have relocated to the area and we feel very fortunate to have her,” said Dunning. “We also have (Center Township Assessor) Mindy Relos Whiting taking the other position, and we are very happy that she will be staying on. She’ll start out working three days a week.
“We had a receptionist years ago, but when our other one left we didn’t rehire a receptionist since we wanted to handle all assessment question’s ourselves. With all the extra traffic coming into this office now, we really just need somebody to help out with that.”
The added staff creates another problem for the office — just where do you put everybody?
“It’s a real challenge to our office space,” said Dunning. “We’ll have our GIS deputy working out of a third-floor office and Mindy will also work out of her office on the third floor for now. I know the Commissioners are working on a solution for us but it’s going to be a tough one.”
The added challenges of taking on the entire county’s assessment’s is made a little tougher by other variables.
“We’ve had so many changes and the state really hasn’t had a chance to do any training for us,” she said. “Reassessment is right around the corner to and we have to be prepared for the added data entry of that.
“Some things you just have to dive right in, and I’m very sure that we’re prepared. We’ve got a great staff. Everybody is certified and very capable. We’re very lucky in Marshall County that everybody works together so well and that makes a big difference. All of the township assessors have been very good to work with and I think it will help in our transition.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 July 2008 )
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