Cole County assessor candidates focus on staff vacancies

Candidates for Cole County assessor share concerns over unfilled positions within the office, but they differ on why those spots are empty.

Incumbent Chris Estes said salaries set by the Cole County Commission are too low. He cited starting salaries listed in a 2006 salary study that remain the same today. His challenger, business owner Greg Rollins, said salaries aren't driving applicants away, rather it's a poor working environment under Estes.

Greg Rollins

Rollins' hobbies bring him outdoors. He enjoys landscaping, fishing and coaching sports. He sits on the Calvary Lutheran High School board of directors as its treasurer. In the past, he was the state vice president of the Missouri Jaycees.

Chris Estes

Estes and his wife are members of the Historic City of Jefferson group, and they have enjoyed renovating homes in the past. The couple received the Historic City of Jefferson Gold Award after renovation of his late grandmother's home. Estes is a member of on the Lions Club and was once on the Missouri State Penitentiary Committee. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking.

"If they enjoy their job, but they don't enjoy the environment, they're going to go somewhere else to do the exact same job in a better environment," Rollins said.

The challenger is making the accusation based on "conversations with people related to that office" who have told him "it's not necessarily the pay that's driving employees away." He declined to specify who gave him the information, stating he wants to protect their privacy. When asked, Rollins would not say whether he had spoken with the assessor's office or county government employees.

Estes said he is looking for a residential appraiser and a commercial appraiser, which are budgeted positions and posted on the county's website. He has also requested a general certified appraiser from the County Commission. Hiring for the positions would bring the staff to a total of 14, including himself.

He said the salary range for a general certified appraiser, the highest level of appraiser, is $45,000-$50,000.

It's important to fill this position, Estes said, because it's the only level of appraiser that can testify before the Missouri State Tax Commission.

The non-certified residential appraiser salary is $29,000, and the salary for a certified one is $35,000, Estes said.

The salary for the Cole County assessor is $59,438.

Non-certified residential appraisers who receive their certification are eligible for a one-time $2,000 salary increase. Estes said he fought for 18 months for qualified employees to receive that raise, only for the commission to take it away the following year.

If elected, Rollins, who has owned businesses in Cole County for 30 years and currently owns Rollins Automotive, said the work environment in the assessor's office would improve. Without working in the assessor's office, he said, he could not list specific solutions to bettering the environment, but the issue is one reason he's seeking the office.

"I know in my business, the work environment here is joyful, it's very cooperative, it is helpful, and I lead by example," he said. "I don't ask anybody to do anything that I don't do. I don't expect anybody to work harder than me, and I put myself in the trenches with everybody else every single day."

Of the employees in the assessor's office before Estes took over in 2007, he said 50 percent are still there, reflecting positively on the working environment. Five employees individually have 32, 18, 12, 11 and 10 years of experience, he added.

"I think you will always find an employee who has something that they don't like about an office," Estes said. "No one is going to be completely happy all the time. But I think, in general, you'll find that the people in this office are very professional, they like their work and they like working in this office for me."

The state does not require appraisers in assessors' offices to be certified. That's a fact Rollins said is not well-known publicly, which could be another reason the office has trouble hiring.

Despite the fact anyone can technically be hired as an appraiser, there should still be standards, Rollins said. He gave the example of a local lumberyard employee who conducts estimates to be a qualified candidate for a non-certified appraiser.

"They have all the qualifications and math skills needed to do that," Rollins said. "It's not like this is rocket science. The state statutes are set, the computer programs are in place, the office staff is there, and anybody that has the will, the determination, the drive and the ability to read and comprehend should be able to get a handle of that office in six months."

Rollins said six months is the grace period he gives new employees.

The goal of every assessor's office, Rollins said, should be to have 100 percent certification among its appraisers, but he knows "that is also impossible." To motivate employees to earn certification, Rollins said, he'd use goal setting. He would also ensure resources for employees wanting certification.

Rollins said if he's elected the assessor and if staff wants to earn certification, he "would find time and money so they could do that."

Though certification is not required, Estes said he seeks certified appraisers.

He said residential certified appraisers have a bachelor's degree or higher, classes and additional 200 hours of training, and 2,500 hours of appraising. General certified appraisers, Estes said, have a bachelor's degree or higher, 300 hours of training and 3,000 hours of appraising in no less than 30 consecutive months under the supervision of a general certified appraiser.

The county's online job posting for a general certified appraiser specifies state certification as a "real estate appraiser - general" is required and experience in mass appraisal is preferred.

Another county posting for a residential appraiser states the minimum requirements are graduation from an accredited high school or general education development certification, one year of mass appraisal experience in an assessment office or one-year experience relating to real estate appraisal, and any combination of experience and education with skills to complete the residential appraisal tasks.

"I prefer to hire somebody who actually has the training and the certification because it brings an increased level of accuracy and professionalism to the position, and it provides a better product to the taxpayers," Estes said.

If Rollins wins the election, he would not take office until September 2017. State law stipulates newly elected assessors cannot take over at the beginning of odd years when counties conduct their assessments.

Previous coverage:

Assessor candidates talk about office's role in Cole County

Rollins hopes to give back as assessor

Estes looking to serve another term