Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series featuring the candidates for Mariposa County Assessor/ Recorder. The second part will appear in next week’s edition.
The two candidates seeking the office of Mariposa County Assessor/Recorder recently participated in a forum to discuss their visions for the office.
The candidates are Jenifer Canter, a former employee of the office, and Tammie Guenthart, who is serving in the role after being appointed by the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors following the exit of former Assessor Vince Kehoe, who left the office before finishing out his elected term.
The forum was recorded by KRYZ Radio and is airing on the station over the next month or so.
Following is a summary of how the candidates answered the many questions posed during the forum
In her opening statement, Canter said “real estate has been my passion” since she entered the field in 2004. She said the role of the assessor’s office requires “technical expertise, a people first approach to service … and a deep commitment to and respect for the community.”
She said “the assessor’s time will better serve the people to focus on advocacy, representation and implementing policies that improve the public’s experience and interacting with the office.”
Guenthart said she has worked for Mariposa County for 30 years with 22 of those in the assessor’s office.
She said there are a wide variety of lands in the county, including commercial, residential, agriculture and more.
Guenthart said “experience and continuity” are “important” in the role of assessor.
“Beyond the technical knowledge, relationships matter,” said Guenthart. “Today our office is functioning smoothly and we have a positive, collaborative team focused on serving the public.”
Both candidates were asked by steps are taken to make sure there are fair property assessments in Mariposa County.
Canter said she would “implement different steps” in the office when it comes to the process.
“I would like to see fair appraisals regardless of who your appraiser is in the office. Appraisals are an opinion of value.”
She said currently, certain employees in the office take the same properties and have their own books. She feels a “round robin” approach would be better to ensure different people are handling properties as they come up for appraisal.
Guenthart said assessments are based on “fair market value” and “I don’t know how we can do favoritism for that because it is a set amount.”
She said the reason for “assigned books” is because the employees “become familiar with your territory.”
They were then asked how it is determined which properties in the county need to be assessed.
“We don’t assess properties unless there is an event that causes it,” said Guenthart.
That can be a sale, new construction or other reasons.
Canter cited Prop 13 in California and said it only is assessed if it changes hands or if there is new construction.
The next issue concerned when a property changes hands and it was asked how the process works.
Canter said once a deed comes into play, that sets the process in motion.
She said an assessor then makes a “field visit” to the property, which can take up to a year.
“That’s something I would like to change,” she said. “I would like to see it move more quickly.”
Guenthart said “we do most of the time the appraisals as they come in … we do notify people we are coming out, either by text, telephone, whatever contact we have.”
She said they only take photos of the outside and then they process the file and people are notified “within a week” about what their tax bill is going to be for the next period.
Another topic was exemptions which some people may qualify for when it comes to their property assessments.
Guenthart said her office tries “very, very hard” to make sure all veterans are aware of and get their exemption.
“It’s a lot of work,” she said because of the paperwork involved. “If you qualify, you are going to get that exemption.”
Canter said she agreed with Guenthart that the assessor’s office goes “out of their way” to help people and “would continue to go out of their way” if she becomes the next assessor.
She added she would like to have a “yearly summit” for the community to outline what exemptions are available and how people can qualify.
“This would give everybody more of an opportunity to get educated on the exemptions.”
Also asked of the candidates was what happens if someone disagrees with the assessment and what the office does to address the situation.
“You would want to talk the assessor first,” said Canter. “You want to try to solve it at the level of your elected leader first.”
She added if the homeowner and assessor’s office can’t come to an agreement, it there is a right to appeal, which is the Board of Equalization. That board is now made up of the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors.
Canter did say she would like to see the supervisors be required to get the proper training because they now act as that board. When the board was made up of citizens, she said, they were required to take that training.
Guenthart said there are “different reasons and different timelines” to appeal.
She said once an appeal is filed, the assessor’s office will contact them and try to settle the matter. If they can’t, then it goes through the formal process. She said the office gets “very few appeals” annually.
The next question posed to the candidates had to do with how the assessor’s office is physically arranged. As it stands, the elected assessor’s office is located across the hall from the main office. They were asked if they think that should change.
“No,” said Guenthart. “We go back and forth. They go back and forth. We don’t have enough space. We cram everyone into little cubicles.”
For Canter, she sees it differently.
“I actually do see changes that could be made,” said Canter. “I would like to have my desk, my space, over on the recorder’s side … so when people come in, they can speak directly to their representative.”
Another topic discussed had to do with the former assessor, Vince Kehoe. When he left the office, he wrote a scathing letter to the supervisors criticizing Canter. Both candidates were asked if they thought that was appropriate.
Canter said she never received a poor review from Kehoe and she disagreed with Kehoe injecting himself into the discussion.
“I just don’t agree,” she said. “That’s all I can say.”
“Well, everybody’s got their own personal opinion and that was his opinion,” said Guenthart. “I can’t decide on how he feels.”
A general question was then asked about customer service and its importance for the assessor’s office.
Guenthart said the “office staff” is “very well trained” in customer service, including taking classes about the subject. I think it is training … the training they are getting.”
“I think this goes back to my plan to sit on the recorder’s side,” said Canter. “I think the staff does a good job … but I have heard of some instances that have not been very comfortable. I would like to be there and help guide the office.”
The candidates were then asked about technology and what role it plays in the office and how it can be improved.
Canter said “one big thing” she is for is “e-recording. I would like to see that happen. She also stressed she would get input from the public before implementing such a program.
Guenthart said a new program was instituted in 2019 and “we’ve got a pretty good handle on that.” She said in May, there will be a new Tyler Technologies system going into place, as well.
She feels that will allow for easier access to the public.
The candidates were then asked how they would make sure the assessor’s office works in harmony with the other county departments.
“I do have good working relationships with the other departments,” said Guenthart. “Being in close contact with them is great.”
Canter agreed there are good working relationships now. But, she did say when it comes to the taxpayers, she would make sure there is a “clear line of accessibility when it comes to their private appraisal file” and feels there needs to be written policy on how information is collected from the assessor’s office.
The next question had to do with accuracy in recording and how each candidate would make sure that is an ongoing focus.
“Just making sure everything we use to determine your value is clear cut and easily presented to the taxpayer so that they have the opportunity to pick it apart if that’s what they are choosing to do.”
Guenthart said there are detailed records kept at the office currently and she feels great care is taken to make sure they are accurate.
Responses (0)