Assessor and CEO to meet over job funding

EL CENTRO — Step increases and promotions the County Assessor’s O ce wanted to give to the seven of its employees in line for them were denied by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors at Tuesday’s augmentation hearing.

The augmentation request was for five appraisers and two service technicians.

“If this does not happen, one of the five appraisers will leave,” said Assistant County Assessor Jack Dunnam.

The promotions or step increases would have resulted in an increase of a little more than $10,000 in the general fund.

County CEO Tony Rouhotas Jr. said he realizes $10,000 is a small amount, but it is still significant.

The supervisors denied the augmentation because they think the promotions will be an ongoing expense, while the savings the assessor’s office identified might not be continual.

The supervisors gave direction to Rouhotas and County Assessor Robert Menvielle to meet to identify some ongoing savings through a possible reclassification of a vacant funded position.

Dunnam, who presented the assessor’s case at Tuesday’s augmentation meeting, said he believes the board understands the need to grant promotions in order to retain an experienced sta .

Dunnam told the supervisors that the appraisals will be ongoing, too, and had increased by 4.4 percent over last year.

“We need to promote these people to retain them,” he said. “If we can’t move them on (to the next step) they will seek work elsewhere.”

He pointed out entry-level appraisers are unable to do large appraisals, like a Walmart or the Imperial Valley Mall.

The county’s share in the $1.1 million in the tax roll is 16 percent or $176,000, which goes into the general fund.

Dunnam contacted the CEO after the board meeting to request a meeting to be scheduled. The CEO’s o ce responded on Wednesday, and left a voice message about finding a date and time for the meeting.

Dunnam said he and the county assessor is already looking for savings for next year.

“You can’t overlook that the property tax we are collecting is ongoing,” he said.

Menvielle said it appears that all of the parties received and understand the direction given by the board for the meeting to take place.