Description
The City of Madison Assessor's Office is seeking a detail-oriented and motivated individual to join our Assessment team as a Hybrid Civil Technician–Property Lister. This is responsible entry level technical and administrative work in the support of City assessment services and land data coordination. The Hybrid Civil Technician-Property Lister maintains parcel information and land records, focusing on the ownership records of real estate and is a “Land Information (Record) Custodian” of the information used to create the assessment rolls that underlie the entire taxation process.
The Hybrid Civil Technician-Property Lister assists with technical work in providing field and office support services to property appraisal and assessment staff. This includes confirming data such as measurements in the field to ensure coded characteristics of property are accurate, maintaining property records, and providing assistance to Property Appraisers as needed.
Work is structured to provide career advancement to Civil Technician 2 as the employee gains the skills necessary to function independently. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Assessment Business Systems Manager and Assessment Operations Manager.
*On-site position through the probation period with hybrid scheduling available upon completion of probation.
*Flexible schedule supported between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. within a 38.75-hour work week.
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities
Research and Data Verification
Determine owner's name and mailing address from recorded documents located in the grantee/grantor tract index, Dane County tract database program (Laredo, Lynx).
Conduct title searches. Process documents. Verify data against previously recorded documents and records and records discrepancies. Update parcel numbers through the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Electronic Transfer Return System (eRETR).
Learn to write and interpret legal descriptions.
Assist with reviewing sales of commercial and residential classed properties.
Process and Update Data
Process land divisions: splits, combinations, new plats, certified survey maps, annexations, condominiums and street vacations; compute the square footage of parcels and assign parcel numbers.
Ascertain statutory classification of assessment based on use, use code type, lot type, school district and Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) district for new parcels.
Process recorded documents including, but not limited to, condominium documents, leases and other recorded legal documents, to maintain the assessment data for new and existing parcels.
Create Computer Aided Drawings (CAD) of residential new construction, additions, and alterations to existing drawings.
Under direction, compute and document partial percentages of buildings that are incomplete at the end of the assessment year.
Use Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and other available tools to confirm data and update records.
Process building permits for residential properties in agency software.
Interagency Collaboration
Assist as department liaison for inquiries from Dane County Land Regulations and Records, Dane County Treasury, Dane County Register of Deeds, City of Madison Engineering, Planning and Development and Real Estate Departments.
Perform related work as assigned.
Requirements
What We’re Looking For:
A detail-driven record keeper who can accurately maintain parcel, ownership, and land-information data that support the City’s assessment and taxation processes.
A technically curious learner comfortable working with digital land-record systems, property data, and basic mapping or measurement tools.
A reliable field and office support partner who can verify property characteristics, assist appraisers, and ensure data accuracy through both onsite and administrative work.
A strong communicator and collaborator who can work effectively with assessment staff, property owners, and internal partners.
A motivated professional interested in developing technical skills and progressing to Civil Technician 2 through structured on-the-job learning.
HOURS: Flexible schedule supported between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. within a 38.75-hour work week.
Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum qualification is demonstrated either through achieving the Assessment Technician certification with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue by passing their certification exam or through passing the City of Madison Lister written examination (designed to simulate the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Assessment Technician certification exam). The City of Madison Lister exam will be administered online to interested applicants at no cost, following the close of the application period.
Information to register for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Assessment Technician exam is listed below.
All study materials listed and linked are relevant for the City of Madison Lister exam as well.
-OR-
Any Wisconsin assessor certification gained prior to this posting.
All applicants who meet the above certification requirements will be considered for this position. Online testing details will be sent following the application closing date for those who choose to take the City of Madison Lister examination.
Wisconsin Department of Revenue - Assessment Technician Certification Exam
This is a 50-question multiple choice exam provided in an electronic format. There is time before the exam to interact with the testing system for ease of use. Duration of the exam is one hour. A passing score is correctly answering 70 percent or more of the questions. The fee for this exam is $50.
Topics on the exam include:Basic Math (20 Questions)
Legal Descriptions (10 Questions)
Construction Terms (8 Questions)
Assessment Law Questions (12 Questions)
Registration for the Exam
Register for the exam at Pearson VUE:
On the right side of the web page, click "Create Account"
Click "View Exams" and then select "Wisconsin Assessor Certification – DOR"
Select "WI DOR A Tech" and then click "Schedule this Exam"
You are asked for pre-licensing training information, this is not applicable to assessors. Leave both areas blank and click "Next."
Select desired testing center; then select the date and time
Click "Proceed to Checkout" to pay exam fee ($50) and confirm exam registration.
Study for the Exam
Wisconsin Department of Revenue has created study materials for all levels of assessor certifications. Please click here (Download PDF reader) to find their study guide. The Assessment Technician exam will be listed by that title.
Quizlet – a free interactive study website contains specific material for the Assessor Technician exam. Please find that information here. The following options are relevant for the exam:Assessment Technician: Legal Description
Assessment Technician: Construction
Assessment Technician: Assessment Law
The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to effectively work with multicultural communities.
Special Requirements
Possession of a valid driver’s license. Employees in this position who provide their own vehicle to work in the field will be reimbursed for mileage.
Permanent certification as an Assessment Technician with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue is required within six (6) months of hire. Failure to obtain the necessary certification during the probation/trial period may result in forfeiture of the position, absent extenuating circumstances.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to sit/stand for prolonged periods of time and perform work at computer terminal.
Ability to frequently move around on uneven terrain in order to take measurements and pictures of property.
