Section 458-12-030. County appraisers' salary and classification plan.

(1) If an assessor wishes to put into effect the appraisers' salary and classification plan established in accordance with section 7, chapter 146, Laws of 1967 ex. sess., he shall inform the department of revenue and the board of county commissioners of this intent in writing. Upon receipt of this notification from the assessor of his intent to implement the plan, the department of revenue and the county board of commissioners may thereupon designate their respective representatives. The designation of the department's representative shall be made in writing by the director, or by the assistant director, property tax, and shall be sent to the assessor and the chairman of the board of county commissioners. The designation by the board shall also be in writing, signed by a member of the board, and shall be sent to the director and the assessor.

(2) Such designations shall be made within fifteen calendar days from receipt of the notification from the assessor, or within fifteen calendar days from the date of this regulation, whichever is later. If either the department or the board fail to designate a representative, the committee may still be formed and may still act. However, if both the department and the board fail to designate a representative, the committee shall not be considered as having been formed or empowered to act, the assessor alone being unable to act as the committee.

(3) The committee shall determine the total required number of certified appraiser positions. The committee shall also determine salaries to be paid by determining the number of positions to be established within each class of appraisers for each of the next four budget years. The committee may not, however, change the salary level established in the plan for each class. In determining the number of appraisers' positions within each class, the committee may, if it so desires, provide for different numbers for each year. The committee's determination should be based upon its judgment as to the number of positions within each class necessary to carry out the requirements relating to revaluation of property in chapter 84.41 RCW for each of the next four budget years. In the event of increases unanticipated by the committee in the workload of the assessor's office during this four-year period, because of unanticipated increases in taxable property, the county commissioners, acting under their statutory powers and independently of section 7, chapter 146, Laws of 1967 ex. sess., may increase the number of positions in each class from the minimum numbers established by the committee.

(4) The determination of the committee, made pursuant to paragraph 3 shall be in writing, shall be certified as true and correct by all members of the committee, and shall be immediately transmitted to the board of county commissioners. Such determination must be by unanimous vote.

(5) In the event that the committee fails to reach a determination, classifications, qualifications, and salaries of appraisers shall be established independently of the provisions of section 7, chapter 146, Laws of 1967 ex. sess., and these rules. And in such event, nothing in these rules or in section 7 shall be construed to derogate from:

(a) The authority of the assessor with respect to setting qualifications for his personnel, or;

(b) The authority of the board of county commissioners with respect to determining the budget of the assessor's office.

[Order PT 68-6, § 458-12-030, filed 4/29/68.]

Order PT 68-6, § 458-12-030, filed 4/29/68.