Hamilton County Assessor
The County Assessor identifies, lists and calculates the assessed value of all Real and Personal property in those areas of the county that are not maintained by the individual Township Assessor/Manager. In general, the County Assessor performs the following duties:Administers Sales Disclosure ProcessAdvises and instructs the County's Township Assessor/ManagerCalculates the assessed value of all real property in each taxing districtCalculates the total assessed value of each taxing districtCertifies current Assessments to the County Auditor's OfficeDiscovers and identifies omitted propertyInsures countywide uniform Property Assessment EqualizationSelects Assessment Software and Computer SystemsOversees the General Reassessment processServes as Member/Secretary of the County Property Tax Assessment Board of AppealsUtilizes recent sales of land (Sales Disclosures) to establish base market rates and values in each neighborhood, adjusts base values for location, nearness to amenities and other influence factorsVerifies and reviews the self reported values of all personal property in each taxing districtEstimated Current Assessor Salary: $140,625.03
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Kevin W Poore
(Rep)
How will your leadership style ensure that the assessor's office keeps pace with the demands of being one of the fastest-growing counties in Indiana?
What are your qualifications for holding this office?
What are the challenges to your office in the next four years?
How do you ensure that property reassessments are applied uniformly across different townships in Hamilton County, preventing inequity between established and new neighborhoods?
Candidate Statement
My entire career has been in local property tax and assessment administration. I have served the Hamilton County community in the Assessor’s office for the past 27 years. Nobody likes seeing increasing property taxes, me included. The dramatic changes in property values in recent years have been challenging as assessments directly affect property tax bills. That said, I enjoy the opportunity to meet with taxpayers and to explain the assessment process. I have always strived to be a leader in my field, to represent Hamilton County positively, and to be a budget-conscious steward of the taxpayer’s money. My approach to assessment changes has been to manage market increases conservatively as I remain committed to delivering high-quality service to our residents.
Education
BS in Public Affairs, Indiana University - Bloomington, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Occupational background
30 years in local property tax and assessment administration
Political Office(s) Held in the Past
Hamilton County Assessor
Campaign Phone (public)
3176585458
My entire career has revolved around local tax administration including serving the Hamilton County community in the Assessor’s office for the past 27 years. Hamilton County has been among the fastest-growing counties in the state for many of those years. I have witnesses and experienced that growth first-hand. Nobody likes paying higher property taxes, me included, and the dramatic changes in property values in recent years have been challenging. This job can be difficult and contentious at times because assessments directly affect property tax bills. That said, I enjoy meeting with people and helping taxpayers understand the assessment process. I have always strived to be a leader in my field, to represent Hamilton County positively, and to be a budget-conscious steward of the taxpayer’s money. My approach to assessment changes has been to manage market increases conservatively as I remain committed to delivering high-quality service to our residents.
I have worked in Hamilton County since 1995. I spent many of my early years in Carmel and Clay Township responsible for assessing new construction in the area and helping with appeals. I later moved to the Hamilton County Assessor's office as assessment manager overseeing commercial and industrial assessments. I was promoted to Chief Deputy in 2021 and was then elected as County Assessor in 2022. I hold an Indiana Level 3 Assessor certification. I have Assessment Administration Specialist (AAS) designation with the IAAO. I am an executive board member of the Indiana County Assessors Association (ICAA) as treasurer. I have taught various classes at ICAA conferences and for the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF). As Assessor, I also serve as a non-voting member of the Hamilton County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals. I am a leader among my peers and respected by my staff. Thus, I am uniquely qualified for this position.
Changes in the growth within the county and continued office reorganization are at the forefront of the challenges facing this office. As Carmel and Fishers approach being built-out, new development growth has surged further north in areas like Westfield and Noblesville. Most of our staff has been accustomed to working in particular areas of the county. Looking ahead, office and staff will need to operate with more flexibility.
Legislative changes by the General Assembly are always a reason for concern as certain changes to assessment and/or property tax policy can alter Assessor operations and procedures.
Aging staff and planning for the future will present challenges. New hires will need to be competent and motivated individuals. Training new staff will be extremely important as we look to replace the loss of institutional knowledge. New technology is also being discussed at the state level including the incorporation of A.I. software to assist in the assessment process.
Uniform and equitable assessment is part of our normal practice. We submit an annual ratio study to the Department of Local Government Finance who conducts a statistical review of our values for exactly that, uniformity and equity across each township. All neighborhoods, new and old, are evaluated annually. We compare our assessed values to market value sales and adjust/trend values based on statistical analysis. When neighborhoods are homogeneous, values are uniform. The difficulty lies in areas of unplatted properties and rural areas where homes and lot sizes are wide and varied in terms of size and age. It is extremely important to make sure that like properties are grouped with like properties when trying to ensure equity.
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