Assessment Practices Review Panel - St. Louis County

True County Recommendation
True County findings Impact on TUF Key benefits
In a True County system authority and
statutory responsibility are aligned.
It is expected that a True County system, long
term, will produce a better quality product at
lower cost compared to implementing
mitigating measures within the current Local
County assessment system.
Direct control over quality management will
improve all aspects of TUF.
Direct control over quality management will
improve all aspects of TUF.
Addresses current lack of control over
quality management of the assessment
process.
Cost are reduced because less time is
spent on addressing variances, workloads
are more predictable and economies of
scale can be achieved.
A True County system will be financed through
the county levy and the cost of a property
owner will be based on the tax capacity of
their property.
This impacts the fairness of the distribution of
assessment cost. (Note: if the City of Duluth chooses
not to participate in a True County system, city
property owners will pay additional cost)
Average cost per parcel is projected to be
lower. Cost of the assessment process are
shifted from local jurisdictions to the
County.
In a True County system the assessors work
under the direction of the County Assessor’s
office. As a result the County Assessor can
directly manage the assessor team and
improve uniformity in training and knowledge
levels to effectively carry out the assessment
process.
This impacts all three aspects of TUF.
Addresses the current concerns of
improving county and local assessors
working as a team.
Under a True County system the County
carries direct responsibility for the technology
used by the assessors. As a result there is no
longer a gap between assessed jurisdictions.
This impacts all three aspects of TUF.
Addresses the current concern of
technology gap between the county and
local assessors.
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