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KITTITAS COUNTY <br /> COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES <br /> 2023 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br /> STUDY SESSION DATE: September 25, 2023 <br /> ACTION REQUESTED: Request to Approve a Resolution Appointing Two <br /> Hearings Examiners to Support the Board of Equalization. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Board of County Commissioners recently assigned the <br /> Board of Equalization from the Commissioners' Office to <br /> Community Development Services. With this move, staff <br /> began researching the potential to hire a Hearings Examiner <br /> to advise the Board of Equalization on appraisal appeals. <br /> Washington Administrative Code 458-14-436 specifically <br /> addresses the use of a Hearings Examiner to support the <br /> Board of Equalization. With the sufficient staffing of the <br /> citizen Board of Equalization, staff has prepared a job <br /> description for the Hearings Examiner and a Request for <br /> Proposal to support the hiring of the Examiner. <br /> A Request for Proposals was advertised for a three-week <br /> period and proposals were due for consideration by <br /> Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 5:00pm. Staff did not <br /> receive any Request for Proposals by the published <br /> deadline. <br /> At a recent Board of Equalization meeting, staff solicited <br /> current members for interest in supporting the Board of <br /> Equalization by submitting qualifications to serve as <br /> Hearings Examiner. Two members expressed interest, <br /> appear highly qualified and staff is recommending moving <br /> forward with the hiring of two Hearings Examiners to <br /> support the current workload. <br /> Ensuring future success of the BOE Hearings Examiner <br /> process, the proposed legislation also provides for BOE <br /> member training creating the opportunity for fixture <br /> hearings examiners. The revised process is expected to <br /> result in shortening the BOE annual process. <br /> INTERACTION: Community Development Services. <br /> RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Resolution to Hire Two Hearings Examiners <br /> to Support the Board of Equalization. <br />