April F+E Now Available


Missed the Town Hall? Watch above


Volume 17, Issue 2

What's New!

IAAO offering two Instructor Evaluation Workshops in 2021

IAAO will offer two Instructor Evaluation Workshop in 2021 for members interested in becoming an instructor. IEW is an intensive 3-day event that allows you to showcase your training skills and abilities related to the delivery of IAAO materials in a classroom setting. The first IEW will be an in-person IEW and will run August 27, 2021 through midday August 29, 2021 just prior to the beginning of the IAAO Annual Conference in Chicago and IAAO is now accepting applications. Those who pass the in-person event will be junior instructors and certified to teach in the live classroom. The second IEW is a virtual experience and will be offered during the fall 2021 via the Zoom platform. Specific dates for this 3-day event will be announced in early summer 2021. Those who pass the virtual event will be junior instructors and certified to teach in the virtual classroom.

Register for the 2021 Emerging Leaders’ Summit

Registration is now open for the 2021 Emerging Leaders’ Summit, and this year’s event, “GROW into Coaching,” is a multi-part skill-building certificate program. Participants will engage in a content-rich program including three webinars (June 23, July 14, and Aug. 11) focused on leading through coaching with a growth mindset. The program, sponsored by Tyler Technologies and Data Cloud Solutions, will culminate in an interactive event, “Embracing Change,” in Chicago during the IAAO Annual Conference. Emphasis will be on learning the GROW coaching model. Presenting in Chicago will be award-winning coach, author, educator, and speaker, Judy Favor, Ph.D. The Chicago session will be livestreamed and available on video for participants unable to attend the conference and scholarships are available for participants.

IAAO Statement on Fair and Equitable Assessments

Recent news reports have highlighted potential disparities, or regressivity, in low-income properties being overvalued during the assessment process. The International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) and its members are committed to providing fair and equitable property valuation assessments. 

IAAO believes regressivity in assessment is a serious issue. Valuation disparity is an assessment, legislative, political, and educational issue. Property tax caps, credits and freezes may contribute to disparities in valuations. Therefore, all parties must work together to identify any issues that currently exist and to prevent disparities from occurring in the future.

IAAO promotes the following as cornerstones of providing fair and equitable property assessments:

• Appraising properties on a regular basis to determine Fair Market Value
• Following IAAO technical standards on assessment and office operations
• Allocating adequate resources to jurisdictions to carry out the assessing function in accordance with best practices
• Providing assessors and assessing staff with training and ongoing professional development

IAAO continues to develop additional tools to assist assessors, jurisdictions, and the public on fair and equitable assessment matters.

To better understand the assessment and appeals process, IAAO offers property owners a brochure, “Understanding your Assessment,” which can be accessed at www.iaao.org/UnderstandingAssessment.

Hotel reservation block open for Annual Conference in Chicago

The hotel room block at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago is now open. Members planning on attending the IAAO Annual Conference, Aug. 29-Sept. 1, may now reserve a room online. A one-night deposit of room and tax is required to hold the room but can be canceled without penalty up to 48 hours before scheduled arrival. More than 70 educational sessions in 10 tracks will be offered at the conference and a complete list is viewable on the conference site. Annual Conference registration will open later in April.

Appraisal Foundation diversity data survey open to IAAO members

IAAO members and those in the appraiser community can participate in a survey conducted by The Appraisal Foundation focusing on gathering diversity-related demographic data and opinions. The survey, which closes on April 30, is anonymous and takes about 3-4 minutes to complete. The Foundation said the survey creates only aggregate information and does not ask for any individual, personal information. To promote public trust in the appraisal profession, and to understand how to best proceed, The Appraisal Foundation is using the survey to look for better insights about the demographics of today’s appraiser community.

U40 Leadership Lab Grant Applications now accepted

Applications are now being accepted for the U40 Leadership Lab Innovation Grants to send to the Annual Conference under-40 members who have implemented a creative idea and have had a tangible and positive impact on the processes or procedures in their jurisdiction.  The grant provides financial aid to those who would not typically be able to attend the conference and the winners will then present their improvement at the conference in Chicago. Applicants not selected, or who are selected but not asked to present, agree based on their application, that their improvement may still be shared. A Grant Application form is available to download. The submission deadline for applications to be received by IAAO by post or electronic mail (scholarships@iaao.org) is July 1.

Nominations accepted for IAAO Awards, Fellows programs

IAAO is accepting nominations for its Awards Program and Fellows Program through May 1. The Awards Program boasts numerous categories recognizing individual and organizational achievements in several areas, including publications, technical expertise, and service to IAAO. Award winners and Fellow selections are recognized at the IAAO Annual Conference. The Awards Program is a highly visible event and all IAAO members and affiliated organizations are encouraged to submit nominations. Fellow nominees are brought forth by the IAAO membership each year and submitted during the awards nominations period.

IAAO is hiring

For more information about exciting career opportunities at IAAO, please visit here or contact Ashley Lathrop at lathrop@iaao.org. 

Meetings

Conference registration to open soon; hotel reservations available now

Registration for the 2021 IAAO Annual Conference will open in late April. The conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago and the hotel room block is now open. Members planning on attending the IAAO Annual Conference, Aug. 29 – Sept. 1, may now reserve a hotel room. See the conference hotel page for more information.

Volunteers needed for Annual Conference.

IAAO is looking for volunteers to work at the IAAO Annual Conference in Chicago, Aug. 29 - Sept. 1. By agreeing to volunteer eight hours, attendees can qualify for a reduced conference registration rate of $395. Once you are confirmed, each volunteer will receive a volunteer coupon code to use when registering. Most of the volunteer positions at the Annual Conference are associated with the registration desk, badge scanning at entrances to sessions, and assisting with coordination of offsite events. To volunteer, fill out the online form at https://illinoisiaao.org/volunteer-form/ or contact the Local Host Volunteer chairs, Chesney Leafblad at cleafblad@warrentownshipassessor.com, or Tim Jorczak at tjorczak@assessor-blm.com. 

Performance management in a crisis focus of April webinar

IAAO will offer a webinar on performance management in a crisis on April 16.The Covid-19 crisis, and now the vaccine distribution, has laid bare the failings of government, at all levels, to deliver health care. The consequences have been tragic. In times of crisis, people and systems are tested. Some fail, others thrive. The consequences are no less dire for Assessors, traditionally the largest source of local discretionary funding for schools, cities, and local government. Larry Stone, Silicon Valley's Assessor, has not just weathered the storm, his office has measurably excelled. In this webinar, Stone describes the cost accounting and performance management systems he created, and has nurtured since he was first elected in 1994. He will also discuss how to create an employee-culture, in a heavily unionized environment that embraces customer service and accountability. The webinar will be presented by Lawrence E. Stone, Santa Clara (CA) County Assessor and offer one CEU hour of credit.

May webinar on measuring obsolescence in Personal Property

Defining and Measuring Obsolescence in Personal Property will be the subject of the May IAAO webinar and will discuss distinguishing Personal Property from Real Property, and consideration of obsolescence in Personal Property. The webinar will also continue with discussion of inutility, and specifically discusses consideration of the effects of COVID-19 on valuation of property. Both Real and Personal Property appraisers will benefit from the information covered in this presentation Presented by Lisa Hobart, CAE, PPS, FIAAO, Lisa A. Hobart, LLC and offer two CEU hours of credit.