Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-07-2011 - 4bORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 7, 2011 Action Agenda Item No. ~- SUBJECT: Appointment of Tax Administrator DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 1) February 15, 2011 Approved INFORMATION CONTACT: Resolution Frank W. Clifton, County Manager, 245-2306 2) Draft June 7, 2011 Resolution John Roberts, County Attorney, 245-2318 PURPOSE: To approve a resolution appointing Jenkins Crayton to a two-year term as Orange County Tax Assessor and Orange County Tax Collector under the title of Orange County Tax Administrator, beginning July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013. BACKGROUND: In late 2009, the Board of County Commissioners charged the County Manager with reviewing the functions of tax assessment and collections and increasing efficiencies in these areas without adding costs. On December 31, 2009, Mr. John Smith retired as Tax Assessor after serving the County for 24 years and the Revenue and Tax Assessor departments were consolidated to form the Tax Administration Department. Ms. Jo Roberson, previously serving as Revenue Director, was reclassified and appointed by the Board of County Commissioners as Tax Administrator for a term to expire June 30, 2011. In August 2010, Ms. Roberson announced her plans to retire during the first half of 2011. At the Board's direction, the County Manager and staff initiated a recruitment and selection process to identify a recommended candidate for appointment by the Board as Tax Administrator upon Ms Roberson's retirement. The Board subsequently by resolution (Attachment 1) appointed Jenkins Crayton as Orange County Tax Assessor for the balance of Ms. Roberson's unexpired term beginning March 1, 2011 and ending on June 30, 2011, and as Orange County Tax Collector for the balance of the unexpired term beginning March 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2011, with such appointments to be served under the title Orange County Tax Administrator. Sections 105-294 and 105-349 of the North Carolina General Statutes provide that the board of county commissioners shall appoint a county assessor and a tax collector. The statutes do not specify length of term for a tax collector but require the county assessor be appointed to a term of not less than two nor more than four years. Whenever a vacancy occurs in either office, the board of county commissioners shall appoint a qualified person to serve as county assessor or tax collector for the period of the unexpired term. The statutes also provide that the offices of county assessor and tax collector are offices that may be held concurrently with another appointive or elective office. z With the terms of appointment for Mr. Grayton as Tax Administrator expiring at the end of June, staff proposes that the Board consider a resolution appointing Mr. Crayton to a two-year term beginning July 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2013. A draft resolution is provided at Attachment 2. With Mr. Crayton's appointment to the unexpired term, he received an annual salary of $95,000 and was credited 10 years of Orange County service for the purpose of annual leave accrual, with future annual leave to accrue at the same rate as an employee who has been employed by the County for 10 years. That 10-year credit did not apply to longevity, retirement credit or any beneftt other than leave accrual. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds are budgeted in the Tax Administration Department's recommended FY 2011-12 operating budget to provide salary and benefits for the Tax Administrator position. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board approve the attached resolution appointing Jenkins Crayton to a two-year term as Orange County Tax Assessor and Orange County Tax Collector under the title of Orange County Tax Administrator, beginning July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013. ~~~~-~- ~~~~l~sl<< RES - 2011 - 017 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS A RESOLUTION APPOINTING JENKINS CRAYTON TO COMPLETE THE UNEXPIRED TAX ASSESSOR AND TAX COLLECTOR TERMS OF JO ROBERSON THE ORANGE COUNTY TAX ADMINISTRATOR WHEREAS, Jo Roberson was appointed by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners to serve as Tax Administrator form January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011; and WHEREAS, The Orange County Tax Administrator serves in the statutory roles of both the Orange County Tax Assessor and the Orange County Tax Collector; and WHEREAS, Ms. Roberson will step down as Tax Administrator and serve as an advisor and consultant to the Tax Administrator effective March 1, 2011 to allow for the effective transfer of roles, responsibilities and integration until she retires April 29, 2011; and WHEREAS, North Carolina law specifies that in the case of a vacancy occurring in the office of tax assessor, the Board of County Commissioners shall appoint a qualified person to serve as county tax assessor for the period of the unexpired term; and WHEREAS, North Carolina law specifies that in the case of a vacancy occurring in the office of tax collector, the Board of County Commissioners shall appoint a qualified. person to serve as county tax collector for the period of the unexpired term; and WHEREAS, The Orange County Manager conducted a selection process and has recommended that Jenkins Crayton be appointed to complete the unexpired terms of Jo Roberson in her capacity as Orange County Tax Assessor and Orange County Tax Collector and that he be appointed to the Orange County Tax Administrator position based on his extensive background and 20 years of public service; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Orange County Board of Commissioners, as provided for under Chapter 105-294 and Chapter 105-349 of the North Carolina General Statutes, does hereby appoint Jenkins Crayton as Orange County Tax Assessor for the balance of the unexpired term that ends on June 30, 2011, and Orange County Tax Collector for the balance of the unexpired term that ends June 30, 2011 and such appointments to be served under the title Orange County Tax Administrator; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Mr. Crayton shalt be compensated an annual salary of $95,000 and shall accrue annual leave at the same rate as an employee who has been employed by Orange County for 10 years. This does not include longevity, retirement credit or any benefit other than leave accrual. Mr. Crayton shall continue to be entitled to all other pay and benefits as are made available to other permanent County employees under the provisions of the Orange County Personnel Ordinance. 3 This 15th day of February 2011. 4 Attachment 2 RES - 2011 - 057 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS A RESOLUTION APPOINTING JENKINS CRAYTON TO A TWO-YEAR TERM AS TAX ASSESSOR AND TAX COLLECTOR WITH THE TITLE ORANGE COUNTY TAX ADMINISTRATOR WHEREAS, Jo Roberson stepped down as Orange County Tax Administrator on April 29, 2011 and Jenkins Crayton was appointed by the .Orange County Board of Commissioners to complete the unexpired term as Tax Administrator from March 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011; and WHEREAS, The Orange County Tax Administrator serves in the statutory roles of both the Orange County Tax Assessor and the Orange County Tax Collector; and WHEREAS, North Carolina law specifies the Board of County Commissioners shall appoint a qualified person to serve as county tax assessor to a term of not less than two nor more than four years; and WHEREAS, North Carolina law specifies the Board of County Commissioners shall appoint a qualified person to serve as county tax collector for unspecified length of term; and WHEREAS, Jenkins Crayton was appointed to complete the unexpired terms of Jo Roberson in her capacity as Orange County Tax Assessor and Orange County Tax Collector, with the title Orange County Tax Administrator, based on his extensive background and 20 years of public service, and Mr. Crayton has now .served three months as Orange County Tax Administrator; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Orange County Board of Commissioners, as provided for under Chapter 105-294 and Chapter 105-349 of the North Carolina General Statutes, does hereby appoint Jenkins Crayton as Orange County Tax Assessor for atwo-term beginning July 1, 2011 and ending on June 30, 2013, and Orange County Tax Collector for atwo-term beginning July 1, 2011 and ending on June 30, 2013, and such appointments to be served- under the title Orange County Tax Administrator; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Mr. Crayton's compensation shall remain the same as approved with his initial appointment to the unexpired term which began on March 1, 2011. This 7th day of June 2011.