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Principal Property Appraiser

Principal Property Appraisers are senior divisional employees conducting professional services work. Responsibilities include informing entry-level appraisers, municipal assessors, and property owners in the conduct of property appraisals and explaining and interpreting property tax laws. At times this will include representing the Division in public presentations, including development of continuing education course material.
This position will be responsible for the review, processing, and audit of property tax exemptions for certain renewable energy facilities in the form of personal property and real property. This will include issuing reimbursements to municipalities. Ability to advise municipal officials, taxpayers, and renewable energy businesses in the application of the law will be vital.
This position will be assigned a regional field territory consisting of approximately 40 municipalities where the employee will collect and analyze data to ensure equalization of values within and between taxing jurisdictions as part of the State Valuation process, as well as provide technical assistance to municipal officials.
After successful completion of a training program, the position may be assigned townships in the Unorganized Territory where the employee will discover, measure and list properties for property tax assessment.
The position may also assist in other Municipal Services Unit responsibilities, including administration of the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement program.
Work requires extensive travel and is performed under limited supervision.
REPRESENTATIVE TASKS
  • Audit property tax exemptions for certain renewable energy facilities and issue required reimbursements to municipalities.
  • Collects, compiles, examines, audits, and verifies real estate sales data to determine relationship of assessments to market value by class of property.
  • Collects, compiles, and analyzes assessor reports and sales data in municipalities to provide uniform valuation between and within taxing jurisdictions.
  • Reviews exemption programs and taxpayer applications to determine eligibility for exemption credit and municipal eligibility for reimbursement of lost taxes.
  • Provide functional direction, guidance, and assistance to entry-level appraisers and municipal assessors to ensure work is correctly performed.
  • Confer with and advise municipal officials and taxpayers to explain, apply, and/or enforce property tax laws.
  • Appraise parcels of property in the unorganized territory in an equitable manner, using current land and building cost schedules.
  • Develops and coordinates course materials, instructs in-service training program, and assists in statewide training and certification program.
 
ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
(Applicants will be screened for possession of these through written, oral, performance, and/or other evaluations)
  • Knowledge of Office 365 programs, including Excel.
  • Ability to gather and compile data and prepare reports.
  • Ability to balance multiple priorities and meet established deadlines.
  • Ability to evaluate information and arrive at logical conclusions.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
  • Ability to develop, coordinate, and instruct training courses programs, both individually and in group settings.
  • Ability to communicate with co-workers, municipal officials, and taxpayers professionally and effectively.
  • Ability to write professionally, clearly, and effectively.
 
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
(These may be acquired on the job and are needed to perform the work assigned)
  • Knowledge of Agency standard operating procedures.
  • Knowledge of State Valuation procedures and rules, including ability to conduct sales ratio analysis.
  • Knowledge of renewable energy facilities operation and equipment as it relates to property tax exemptions.
  • Knowledge of Tax Increment Financing programs and administration.
  • Knowledge of policy and procedure for determining tax reimbursements.
  • Knowledge of and ability to utilize computer assisted mass appraisal systems.
  • Knowledge of and ability to interpret and explain Maine property tax and excise tax laws and regulations.
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply accepted mass appraisal techniques and procedures, including personal property and real estate valuation.
  • Ability to utilize necessary software programs, such as Advantage and Vision.
  • Ability to develop guidelines and criteria for administering tax laws.
  • Ability to present information and represent the Division at public meetings, including testifying at County hearings.
 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution and two (2) years’ experience in property appraisal and assessment work, -OR- an equivalent six (6) year combination of education, training, and/or experience. 
 
Please note: All candidates applying for a position at Maine Revenue Services will be subject to a tax clearance check. In order to be selected for a position, an applicant must have filed all his or her Maine returns and paid all Maine tax liabilities.
State law requires that applicants seeking initial employment with Maine Revenue Services undergo a fingerprint based state and federal criminal history record check.
 
LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Certified Maine Assessor.