OSA Annual Adjustments and Continuing Education Symposium

Note - Registration is limited! Two day registration is $150 per person/One day registration is $100 per person (No payment is required upfront - participants will be invoiced following the conference)

The goal of this symposium is twofold: first, we aim to demystify the ratio study and annual adjustments process. Secondly, we'll offer an assortment of other classes relevant to the assessing world.

Indiana's Ratio Study and Annual Adjustment Process

Taught by Orrin M. Campbell, this is a one day class (7.5 continuing education hours) that breaks down the Ratio Study and Annual Adjustments into manageable parts. Subjects covered will include the difference between the two subjects, relevant code and guidelines, different methodologies to accomplish annual adjustments, data and software resources, what constitutes a successful annual adjustment, when to use a contractor, strategies for getting the most out of a contractor, and more! Participants in this class are encouraged to bring laptops and data sets from their counties for hands-on analysis. This class will be available on both Dec. 10 & 11.

Residential Quality, Condition and Effective Age Workshop 

This one day class (7.5 continuing education hours) taught by Dan Cypert of TEAM Consulting will review the characteristics that determine construction quality for residential properties by use of the Marshall & Swift Valuation Service. House images will be included in the presentation and will lead to extensive classroom participation. Actual construction costs will also be considered as a guide to determining quality. Images will also assist in the discussion on rating homes for condition in relationship to the definition and description for each condition rating. The determination of condition will lead directly into calculations for effective age. Effective age will be defined and demonstrated on how to extract it from the market. Several data sets will be provided for the students to calculate effective age and how to use for the development of a depreciation or percent good table. Topics discussed are: USPAP review, cost approach, quality, condition, physical deterioration using effective age, functional obsolescence, external obsolescence and depreciation and effective age extraction. Dec 10 only.

Low-End Residential Properties 

Dan Cypert of TEAM Consulting returns for a one day class (7.5 continuing education hours) that will provide assistance in the valuation of low-end and difficult residential properties that often create valuation issues. It is not unusual that these types of properties when sold have a sales ratio considerably higher than 1.00 and a very regressive PRD (Price-Related Differential). Discussion and data will center on lower valued residential properties and income and value associated with rental properties. The workshop will conclude with definitions and value issues on manufactured homes, modular homes and odd and unusual homes. Dec. 11 only.

Large Scale Electronic Sketching

James Werner will demonstrate several free or low-cost sketching programs in this 3 hour workshop that improve on CAMA's ability to sketch large commercial or complicated improvements. The advantages of using these techniques to both the assessor's office and the taxpayer will be explained. After taking this class, students will feel confident in experimenting with these programs in their own offices when tackling large sketching projects. Dec. 10 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, and Dec. 11 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Open Government, Transparency and Civic Engagement

Hancock County Assessor Katie Molinder delves into the concept of open government in this 3 hour class. Open government is an approach, which purposefully emphasizes and re-invigorates the basic principle of a “government of the people, for the people, and by the people.” Through information technology Assessor’s Offices throughout Indiana have entered an era of unprecedented transparency of government operations intended to lead to more accountability, collaborative and participatory government, and integrity of public officials. This class focuses on the interactions between the public and Assessor’s Offices. More specifically on open and transparent government, engagement, and the direct involvement of the public in the development of online assessment systems. Transparent government framework, theories, and practice are explored in collaboration with real-life examples from Indiana Assessor Offices. Dec. 10 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and Dec. 11 9:30 pm to 12:30 pm.