Title
Board/Commission Appointment(s) - Valuation Protests Board.
Recommended Action
I nominate Stan Primak as the Valuation Protests Board Professional member with a demonstrated experience in the field of property valuation, for a two year term ending June 25, 2019.
I further nominate Kay Chinn as the qualified elector (Primary Community) member of the Valuation Protests Board for a two year term ending June 25, 2019.
Body
The purpose of this item is to appoint two members to the Valuation Protests Board.
The purpose of the Valuation Protests Board is to serve as an independent board to hear and make decisions, based on evidence presented and current law, on protests of value determinations made by the County Assessor. This board, mandated by State Statute (Attachment A), consists of three voting members plus three alternates. One member plus an alternate are employees of the State Property Tax Division. The NM staff member (or alternate) serves as the Chairman of the Valuation Protests Board. Two additional members plus alternates are to be appointed by the County Council.
The applicants for Los Alamos County are: Stan Primak and Kay Chinn. There are no additional applicants and therefore no alternates are being recommended.
Stan Primak has served on the board since 2011 as the community representative alternate, and as the Primary Professional member. Stan Primak is eligible for re-appointment because there are no restrictions in NMSA 1978 Section 7-38-25 on the number of terms served consecutively.
Kay Chinn has served on the board since 2016 as the community representative and alternate. Kay Chinn is eligible for re-appointment because there are no restrictions in NMSA 1978 Section 7-38-25 on the number of terms served consecutively.
The members appointed by the County Council must meet the following requirements: 1) for the Primary Community Representative(s) position - one member and one alternate shall be qualified electors of the county and shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years; 2) for the Professional Representative position - one member and one alternate shall be qualified electors of the county, shall have demonstrated experience in the field of property valuation, and shall be appointed for a term of two years.
The Council can follow the recommendation or can appoint the applicants to different positions on the board.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
Board members are paid $80 per day plus expenses while the board is in session. These costs are borne by the state so there is no fiscal impact to the county.
It is the responsibility of the County Assessors staff to schedule hearings, prepare documentation, and defend valuation at the hearings.
Attachments
A - Valuation Board Ordinance Statue
B - Stan Primak Application Packet
C - Kay Chinn Application Packet