MEETING DATE: 11/6/2018
DEPARTMENT: ASSESSOR
DEPT HEAD/DIRECTOR: T. Slavich
AGENDA ITEM PREPARER: Tom Slavich
SBC DEPT FILE NUMBER: 7
SUBJECT:
ASSESSOR'S OFFICE - T. SLAVICH
Approve the acceptance of the grant award of $250,000 from the State Supplementation for County Assessor's Program (SSCAP); Approve the 3 additional positions to the Schedule of Authorized Positions; Approve the budget augmentation related to the acceptance of the grant and county annual match and direct the County Auditor to set-aside unspent SSCAP funds at the end of each fiscal year, to be available for the next fiscal year's budget. (4/5 vote)
SBC FILE NUMBER: 7
AGENDA SECTION:
CONSENT AGENDA
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
On August 21, 2018, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 2018-62 authorizing the County Assessor to submit an application, in the form and manner specified by the California Department of Finance, for participating in a three-year State Supplementation for County Assessor's Program (SSCAP).
On October 3, 2018, the Assessor's Office was notified that the application for the SSCAP grant was awarded to San Benito County. The total grant is for $750,000 over three fiscal years.
On October 18, 2018, the county received this year's installment of the grant in the amount of $250,000 from the State Controller's Office. As one of the requirements of the grant, the participating county shall annually match, one dollar ($1) for each two dollars ($2) in program funds the county receives. The county's annual match for this grant will be $125,000.
The grant requires that certain criteria be accomplished as outlined in the grant application. In order to meet those criteria, I am proposing to use this year's grant funds including the county annual match in the following way:
1) Office Equipment, Computers & Supplies
2) Megabyte Computer Software - upgrade (OBPF) On-line Business Property Filing System.
3) Appraiser Position.
4) Auditor-Appraiser Position.
5) Assessment Clerk Position.
6) Temporary Help.
7) Direct the Auditor's Office to set-aside any unused portions of the unspent SSCAP grant funding including the county match at the end of the fiscal year, and make available for the next fiscal year's budget. These funds cannot be used for General Fund purposes.
The new On-line Business Property Filing software will be user friendly to the taxpayer and our office. This will cut down on taxpayer phone calls/inquiries which will free up staff time. Our office will be able to process Property Statements more efficiently and will allow staff more time to finalize appraisals/audits. This will help to increase overall staff productivity.
The additional positions will help alleviate the backlog of appraisal work, provide assistance to keep up with the current workload from transfers and new construction, and assist with scanning & digitizing of our property records which will be a more effective way to preserve, store, retain and locate our information which will in turn improve office and appraisal efficiency.
BUDGETED:
No
SBC BUDGET LINE ITEM NUMBER:
CURRENT FY COST:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board:
1) Accept the SSCAP grant.
2) Approve the 3 additional positions to the Schedule of Authorized Positions for the FY 2018/19.
3) Approve the budget augmentation related to the acceptance of the grant and county annual match. (4/5 approval required).
4) Direct the County Auditor to set-aside unspent SSCAP funds at the end of each fiscal year, to be available for the next fiscal year's budget.
ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL: Yes