§ 105‑299. Employmentof experts.
The board of countycommissioners may employ appraisal firms, mapping firms or other persons orfirms having expertise in one or more of the duties of the assessor to assistthe assessor in the performance of these duties. The county may also assign tocounty agencies, or contract with State or federal agencies for, any dutiesinvolved with the approval or auditing of use‑value accounts. The countymay make available to these persons any information it has that will facilitatethe performance of a contract entered into pursuant to this section. Personsreceiving this information are subject to the provisions of G.S. 105‑289(e)and G.S. 105‑259 regarding the use and disclosure of information providedto them by the county. Any person employed by an appraisal firm whose dutiesinclude the appraisal of property for the county must be required todemonstrate that he or she is qualified to carry out these duties by achievinga passing grade on a comprehensive examination in the appraisal of propertyadministered by the Department of Revenue. In the employment of these firms,primary consideration must be given to the firms registered with the Departmentof Revenue pursuant to G.S. 105‑289(i). A copy of the specifications tobe submitted to potential bidders and a copy of the proposed contract may besent by the board to the Department of Revenue for review before the invitationor acceptance of any bids. Contracts for the employment of these firms orpersons are contracts for personal services and are not subject to theprovisions of Article 8, Chapter 143, of the General Statutes.(1939, c. 310, s. 408; 1971,c. 806, s. 1; 1973, c. 476, s. 193; 1975, c. 508, s. 2; 1983, c. 813, s. 4;1985, c. 601, s. 2; 1989, c. 79; 2002‑184, s. 7; 2003‑416, s. 9.)