Senior Property Tax Specialist

Salary: $68,057.60 - $113,651.20 Annually
Location : Rochester, MN
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Department: Property Records & Licensing
Opening Date: 10/29/2024
Closing Date: 11/12/2024 11:59 PM Central
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Hours of Work: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Union: Employees Association
Olmsted County has earned the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work - Southeast Minnesota designation.
Minimum Qualifications of Education and Experience
Expected starting salary is $32.72 to $43.68. Full salary range is $32.72 to $54.64.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, economics, accounting or a related field and one (1) year of experience in a similar position as listed in the work functions.
OR
Associate's degree from an accredited college in business administration, economics, accounting or a related field and three (3) years of experience in a similar position as listed in the work functions.
OR
A combination of education and experience equivalent to five (5) years of experience in a similar position as listed in the work functions.
Regular and reliable attendance is a necessary component of job/position. Individuals required to use County vehicles and equipment must have a valid driver's license and be free of any major traffic violations for the last three (3) years.
Required Special Qualifications:
Must successfully complete MN Department of Revenue Tax Calculation Certification within six (6) months of employment.
Nature of Work
Under supervision, calculates annual property tax rates and payments, posts property tax revenue, balances property taxes collected, and distributes to Olmsted County taxing jurisdictions. Reports data to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, Department of Education, and State Auditor's Office related to mandated tax reports. Assists other County staff and taxpayers on programs and procedures regarding property taxes while providing excellent customer service. Administers the tax system including configuration testing, documentation, enhancement, and continuous improvement of business processes. Works within other areas of the department as needed.
Examples of Work

• Processes delinquency, forfeiture, and bankruptcy business processes in accordance with state statutory requirements.
• Administers the property tax system and collaborates with external vendors, local taxing entities (school, townships, cities), the public, financial institutions and Olmsted County staff.
• Prepares settlements, balances funds, and distributes tax collections and other payments as required by State Statute, which includes payment in lieu of tax (PILT) , and Minnesota Department of Transportation payments.
• Creates and maintains Tax Increment Finance (TIF) districts and calculates TIF taxes. Develops TIF reports and communicates with various city, county, and state personnel. Follows up on missed payments.
• Collects data and prepares reports for the Minnesota Department of Revenue, Department of Education, and State Auditor's Office.
• Creates tax statements as required by the State of Minnesota. Performs tax adjustment calculations including reductions, additions, and refunds.
• Reviews and analyzes levies and special assessments received from other taxing entities for collection.
• Calculates property tax rates and payment amounts for proposed taxes (TNTs), and certified taxes according to Minnesota property tax statutes.
• Develops business process documentation. Recommends and implements improvements to procedures.
• Gathers data and responds to data requests.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Considerable knowledge of MN property tax statutes, including the delinquent and forfeiture process in MN and related statutes.
• Considerable knowledge of tax increment finance (TIF).
• Knowledge and understanding of property values, market values, tax capacities, special taxation programs, TIF, and special assessment.
• Knowledge of general account principles and government finance theories.
• Knowledge of Minnesota Department of Revenue policies, calendar, tax rates, levy rules, and bond certification
• Skill in the use of computers and technology.
• Skill in accomplishing work accurately in a timely and effective manner, while meeting all statutory deadlines.
• Skill in performing complex tax calculations.
• Ability to train and mentor others.
• Ability to solve problems and recommend process improvements.
• Ability to create and maintain documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Persons with disabilities: the above is a general listing of job duties. Essential and non-essential functions may vary by individual position. Reasonable accommodations may be available for both essential and non-essential job duties.
Physical Demands and Work Environment: In compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the Physical and Environmental Demands:
Function:
24% or Less
25% - 49%
50%-74%
75% or more
Office environment
X
Sitting
X
Standing, walking, reaching, pulling
X
Repetitive hand movement, typing/data entry
X
Talking, hearing
X
Close vision (near acuity)
X
Sedentary (exert up to 10 pounds of force)
X
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Provisional employees are eligible for benefits if employment is projected to be 12 months or longer and work at least 40 hours per pay period.
This document is a brief Summary of Benefits for Olmsted County Employees on the Paid Time Off Program.
Paid Time Off
Employees over .5 FTE accrue Paid Time Off (PTO) based on their length of service as follows:
First year to 5 years of service - accrue up to 23 days
6 to 10 years of service - accrue up to 25 days
11 to 15 years of service - accrue up to 27.5 days
16 to 20 years of service - accrue up to 30 days
21 to 26 years of service - accrue up to 32.5 days
Over 26 years of service - accrue up to 35 days
Employees begin accruing PTO on their first day of work and can use it as soon as accrued with supervisor approval.
Flexible Time Leave
All regular, full-time employees and part-time employees who are scheduled to work at least twenty (20) hours or more per week on an ongoing basis shall receive up to 24 hours (prorated by FTE) of paid FTL at their regular base pay each calendar year.
Commencement of Employment # of FTL Hours
Between January 1 and June 30 24 Hours
Between July 1 and August 31 16 Hours
Between September 1 and November 30 8 Hours
Between December 1 and December 31 0 Hours
Paid Holidays
Olmsted County recognizes the following legal holidays:
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (4 hours when December 24th falls on a Monday - Thursday only), Christmas Day
Employee Health and Insurance Benefits
Health, Dental, Vision, Basic Life, Health Care Spending Account and Dependent Care Spending Account benefits become effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
Health Insurance
The self-insured Olmsted County Employees' Health Plan is administered by Medica. Under the plan, eligible employees and their dependents have access to all providers in the Medica Health Plan Solutions network, including Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center. Members have access to a travel network through First Health.
The plan offers a comprehensive preventive care program to help protect the health of employees and their dependents, 80% co-insurance on most services (after deductible) and access to Nice Healthcare, which offers no-cost virtual and in-home appointments, labs, x-rays, and more.
There is a base in-network deductible of $1,500/person, $4,500/family with the opportunity to earn a reward to lower the deductible to $500/person, $1,500/family. The in-network out-of-pocket maximum is $3,000/person, $6,000/family for those who earn the reward.
Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.
The monthly rates for healthcare coverage are as follows:
Health Insurance Rates
Single health coverage monthly cost to the employee is $110.00 per month or $55.00 per pay period. Employee Plus Children monthly cost to the employee is $500 per month or $240 per pay period. Employee Plus One coverage monthly cost to the employee is $546.00 per month or $273.00 per pay period. Family coverage monthly cost to the employee is $690.00 per month or $345 per pay period.
Nice Healthcare
Nice Healthcare is an additional healthcare option for employees on our health plan. The plan includes virtual and in-home care, primary care, convenient medication delivery, lab work and diagnostics, and comprehensive family care. Coverage is available for employees on the health plan (and their benefits-eligible dependents) all at no cost to employees.
Prescription Drug Plan
The Olmsted County Employees' Health Plan prescription drug benefit is part of the health plan and is administered by Alluma. Covered prescriptions are based on the Alluma Advantage Formulary. The plan contracts with Express Scripts to provide a national network. This allows members to receive prescriptions conveniently at home, or across the country, for the same co-insurance amount. Prescription co-insurance is 25% or 40% depending on whether the prescription is formulary or non-formulary, with the opportunity to lower co-insurance through mail order. Prescriptions are subject to minimum and maximum charges. Both retail and mail order prescriptions apply toward an annual $2,400/person or $4,800/family out of pocket limit.
Dental Insurance
The Olmsted County Dental Plan is self-insured and administered by Delta Dental. Coverage includes Diagnostic & Preventive Services - 100%; Basic Services - 80%; Major Restorative Services - 50%; and Orthodontics - 50%. Lifetime maximum for Orthodontics is $1,500 per eligible dependent child. Diagnostic and Preventive Services do not apply to the yearly individual maximum benefit of $1,500. There is a $50 deductible per family member per year, with a maximum of $150 per family. The deductible does not apply for Diagnostic and Preventive Services.
Coverage is available for employees and their eligible dependents.
Single dental coverage monthly cost to the employee is $0.00 per month. Employee Plus One coverage monthly cost to the employee is $19.00 per month or $9.50 per pay period. Family coverage monthly cost to the employee is $47.00 per month or $23.50 per pay period.
Life Insurance
The County paid Basic Life Plan is group term guaranteed issue life insurance up to two times employee's annual salary rounded to the nearest $1,000 to a maximum of $300,000. Olmsted County also pays 100 percent of enrolled dependent coverage costs for the following life benefits:
Spouse: $2,000
Children up to age 26: $1,250
Voluntary Life Insurance
The cost of employee and spouse Voluntary Life Insurance coverage is determined by age and the amount of coverage. This coverage would be in addition to what employees receive under the Basic Life Plan.
New employees who enroll within 30 days of eligibility may select up to $250,000 in life insurance coverage and up to $50,000 for their spouse without answering any health questions. Employees may apply for additional life insurance in $5,000 increments up to a maximum of $500,000. Spouses may apply for additional life insurance in $5,000 increments up to a maximum of $250,000.
New employees can also elect child life insurance without having to answer any health questions. The cost of life insurance is $1.30 per month, regardless of the number of children covered. The coverage amount is $10,000 per child.
PERA Life Insurance
Employees can purchase guaranteed issue group term life insurance coverage through the Voluntary Group Life Plan with the National Conference on Public Employees Retirement Systems (NCPERS) in which Olmsted County is a participant. It is underwritten by The Prudential Insurance Company of America and administered by Member Benefits.
Cost is $16.00 per month with no medical questions asked.
Short Term Disability Insurance
The County provides a short-term disability benefit of 80 percent pay replacement for up to 150 calendar days based on medical need. Short-term disability benefits are effective on the 181st calendar day of employment and are pro-rated based on the eligible employee's Full Time Equivalence (FTE).
Long Term Disability Insurance
The County provides 40 percent pay replacement coverage.
Employees have the option to purchase an additional 26 2/3 percent pay replacement coverage for a total of 66 2/3 percent. Long-term disability benefits are effective on the 181st calendar day of employment.
Employee Assistance Program
Deer Oaks, Olmsted County's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), is a confidential service to help employees and their families address work and life issues. Online and telephone resources are available 24/7/365.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employees have the option of using one or both flexible spending accounts provided through Olmsted County to pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and day care expenses with pretax dollars.
Health Care Spending Account limit is $3,200.
Dependent Care Spending Account limit is $5,000.
Blood Assurance Program
A Volunteer Blood Donor Program through Mayo Clinic Blood Bank is available to employees. It covers the employee and family for all red blood cell products.
Workers Compensation
All employees are covered by Workers Compensation insurance while performing County business.
Retirement
Olmsted County and employees pay into the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) as follows:
General Plan: Employee Share is 6.50%, County Share is 7.50%
Police & Fire Plan: Employee Share is 11.80%, County Share is 17.70%
Correctional Plan: Employee Share is 5.83%, County Share is 8.75%
General Plan members pay into both PERA and Social Security.
Deferred Compensation Plans
Olmsted County employees may choose to participate in Deferred Compensation Plans (457 Plans) offered through: Empower Retirement Services, VOYA Financial, Nationwide Retirement Solutions, and Minnesota Deferred Compensation Plan.
Years of Service Awards
Olmsted County recognizes employees for milestones in their years of service (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and above).
Direct Deposit
All employees are paid bi-weekly. Employees' paychecks are electronically deposited directly into employees' bank accounts, avoiding situations like late checks or inconvenient trips to the bank.
United Way Donation
If an employee requests, the County will deduct contributions to United Way through payroll deduction.
Staff Development Program
The Staff Development Program offers courses online and in the classroom. The purpose is to train and retain employees through educational opportunities.
Tuition Reimbursement
Olmsted County offers tuition reimbursement for college courses of 80% or $3,000 (whichever is less) per year with prior approval from supervisor and Human Resources for job-related courses.
Olmsted County has partnered with Saint Mary's University to offer employees a 10% tuition grant and waived application fee for qualifying classes.
As a Local Government, Olmsted County is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Act. Go to StudentAid.Gov to learn more about this program and see if you qualify.
Credit Union
Employees are invited to join the First Alliance Credit Union. For more information, call the Credit Union at (507) 288-0330 or (800) 866-1999.
Parking/Transit Plan
Parking for Government Center employees is available employee parking lots. The County supports public transportation. Employees who ride the bus to and from work and during work hours are offered subsidized bus passes.
Jury Duty
Employees required to report for jury duty or attend a trial in response to a subpoena will do so without loss of income. Employees will receive their regular pay during their court service.
01
I understand that I must thoroughly complete the Education, Work Experience, Certificates and Licenses, and Supplemental Questions sections of my application. This includes a detailed description of all work experience that I feel qualifies me for the job I am seeking. I also understand that I may not submit resumes in lieu of filling out the application or answering the Supplemental Questions.

• I have read the above statement and understand that failure to provide sufficient detailed information may result in my application being rejected or my receiving a lower examination score which may make me ineligible for further consideration in this recruitment process.

02
You must meet the minimum qualifications to be considered for the Senior Property Tax Specialist position. Please select the answer that best describes your education and experience.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, economics, accounting or a related field and one (1) year of experience in a similar position as listed in the work functions.
• Associate's degree from an accredited college in business administration, economics, accounting or a related field and three (3) years of experience in a similar position as listed in the work functions.
• Combination of education and experience equivalent to five (5) years in a similar position as listed in the work functions.
• No related education and/or experience as listed above.

03
How many years of experience do you have working with property tax calculations?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• More than 1 year, but less than 2
• More than 2 years, but less than 3
• More than 3 years, but less than 4
• More than 4 years, but less than 5
• 5 or more years

04
How many years of experience do you have balancing receivables and/or property tax collections?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• More than 1 year, but less than 2
• More than 2 years, but less than 3
• More than 3 years, but less than 4
• More than 4 years, but less than 5
• 5 or more years

05
Please select all Microsoft Excel skills you have experience with.

• Pivot tables
• Conditional formatting
• Formulas
• Arrays
• Charts
• None of the above

06
How many years of experience do you have gathering data using computer languages (such as SQL, XML or other computer languages) or other data mining software?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year
• More than 1 year, but less than 2
• More than 2 years, but less than 3
• More than 3 years, but less than 4
• More than 4 years, but less than 5
• 5 or more years

07
Select the highest amount of sums that you have been responsible for in your experience balancing receivables and/or property tax collections.

• Less than $1,000,000
• More than $1,000,000 but less than $5,000,000
• More than $5,000,000 but less than $20,000,000
• More than $20,000,000 but less than $100,000,000
• More than $100,000,000
• None of the above

Required Question