11-10.1 County Director of Tax Equalization - North Dakota Statutes

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CHAPTER 11-10.1COUNTY DIRECTOR OF TAX EQUALIZATION11-10.1-01. County director of tax equalization.1.The board of county commissioners of each county in this state shall appoint a
county director of tax equalization who must be qualified and experienced in
property appraisals, familiar with assessment and equalization procedures and
techniques, and who is the holder of a current certificate issued by the state
supervisor of assessments. The state supervisor of assessments shall confer with
representatives of the county commissioners, city governing bodies, state township
officers association, and personnel at North Dakota state university to establish or
revise the minimum requirements for attaining the certificate. Any person who is
denied such certificate may appeal to the state tax commissioner for a hearing under
the provisions of chapter 28-32.2.The board of county commissioners may, in its discretion, appoint a person on a
probationary basis who does not hold a current certificate as provided for in
subsection 1, if the board deems such person qualified to act as county director of
tax equalization by virtue of education, training, and experience. The appointment
must be for a term of not more than three years.Any person receiving aprobationary appointment who does not obtain a certificate within three years from
the appointment is not eligible for reappointment.3.The county director of tax equalization shall serve at the pleasure of the board of
county commissioners and may be employed on a full-time or part-time basis.
Vacancies in the office of county director of tax equalization must be filled in the
same manner as the original appointment.11-10.1-02. Bond - Oath of office. Each county director of tax equalization or deputy,before performing the duties of office, shall take and subscribe the oath required of public officials
and shall give bond in a sum as may be prescribed by the board of county commissioners for the
faithful performance of the duties of the office. County directors of tax equalization and their
deputies must be bonded through the state bonding fund.11-10.1-03. Deputies - Clerks. The county director of tax equalization, within budgetarylimits prescribed by the board of county commissioners, may appoint full-time or part-time
deputies and clerks as may be necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the office
and they shall receive such compensation as may be authorized by the board of county
commissioners.11-10.1-04.Payment of expenses.A county director of tax equalization and anydeputies or clerks shall receive mileage as provided in section 11-10-15 and their actual and
necessary traveling expenses at the rate and in the same manner as provided for other county
officials.The board of county commissioners shall furnish to the county director of taxequalization and the staff suitable office space and supplies as may be necessary for the proper
discharge of the duties of the office. The salary and expenses of the county director of tax
equalization, and any deputies or clerks, and the expense of the office must be paid from the
general fund of the county.11-10.1-05.Powers and duties of county director of tax equalization -Qualifications of assessors.1.The county director of tax equalization shall have the power, duty, and responsibility
to call upon and confer with township and city assessors in the county and to instruct
them in the preparation and proper use of land maps and property record cards, the
preparation of assessment books, the changes in assessment laws and regulations,
the determination of proper standards of value, the use of proper classifications ofPage No. 1property, and the authority to require attendance at meetings, to the end that a
uniform assessment of all real property in the county will prevail.2.On January 1, 1981, the county director of tax equalization shall succeed to all the
powers and duties of assessors of townships, cities with a population of under five
thousand, and unorganized districts within the county, except that any city with a
population of under five thousand or township may, at its option by resolution of its
governing body, employ an assessor who shall retain the powers, duties, and
responsibilities of the office. The resolution of a city or township governing body to
employ an assessor continues in force until rescinded by the governing body.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the state supervisor of
assessments shall confer with representatives of the county commissioners, city
governing bodies, state township officers association, and personnel at North Dakota
state university to establish minimum requirements for all city and township
assessors.The standards shall reflect their limited jurisdiction and need not beequal to those minimum requirements set for county directors of tax equalization.
Any courses of instruction included in those minimum requirements for assessors of
townships or cities with a population under five thousand must be conducted by the
county director of tax equalization who may cooperate with other county directors of
tax equalization in holding joint classes. The county director of tax equalization may
call upon the state supervisor of assessments for any necessary materials and
assistance. No person may serve as an assessor of a township or a city with a
population under five thousand for longer than twelve months before being certified
by the state supervisor of assessments as having met the minimum requirements.
No person may serve as an assessor of a city with a population of five thousand or
more for longer than three years before being certified by the state supervisor of
assessments as having met the minimum requirements. The expenses and salaries
of city and township assessors must be paid by the city or township exercising this
option.3.Any city or township which does not employ its own assessor shall reimburse the
county for the expenses incurred in assessing the property of that city or township.4.Any assessment made by an assessor who is not certified as qualified for that
assessment jurisdiction must be reviewed and approved by a certified county
director of tax equalization, or a certified city assessor of a city with a population of
five thousand or more, prior to the township or city board of equalization annual
meeting. The cost of the assessment review must be paid by the township or city
having jurisdiction over the assessment at the same rate as paid to a special
assessor in section 57-14-08.11-10.1-06. Assumption of certain duties by county director of tax equalization.The county director of tax equalization shall succeed to all the powers and duties of the county
auditor pertaining to the administration and enforcement of the mobile homes tax prescribed in
chapter 57-55, assist the county auditor in preparation of assessment lists for taxing purposes
and in the correction and omission procedures as defined in chapter 57-14, assist local
equalization boards and assessors by providing information and instruction in the use of all
methods and procedures to obtain uniform property assessments, and spot check all property
assessments.11-10.1-07. Joint county director of tax equalization - County directors may also becity assessors or township assessors. The respective boards of county commissioners of two
or more counties may by agreement and resolutions of the respective boards of county
commissioners employ a joint county director of tax equalization who shall act as county director
of tax equalization for each of the counties participating in the agreement.The salary andexpense of the joint county director of tax equalization and that of the office and staff must be
prorated among the counties participating in accordance with the assessed valuation of the
counties concerned or upon any other basis as may be agreed upon by the respective boards of
county commissioners.The respective boards of county commissioners, acting jointly, shallPage No. 2appoint the joint county director of tax equalization on the same basis and in the same manner
as a county director of tax equalization may be appointed for a single county. The joint county
director of tax equalization may be discharged upon the resolution of the board of county
commissioners of any county participating in the agreement.Any participating county maywithdraw from the joint agreement upon resolution of the board of county commissioners and by
giving written notice to the boards of county commissioners of the other participating counties at
least ninety days in advance of July first of the year of withdrawal. The joint county director of tax
equalization shall have all the powers and duties of the county director of tax equalization of a
single county and shall keep all records of assessment for each county entirely separate from the
records of other counties served by the joint county director of tax equalization. The governing
boards of a county and of any city, or any township, may by agreement and resolutions of the
respective boards employ a joint county director of tax equalization and city or township
assessor.Page No. 3Document Outlinechapter 11-10.1 county director of tax equalization