A county auditor is primarily in charge of preparing county budgets and assigning property taxes. Other responsibilities of the auditor include general accounting and the issuance of vendor licenses. During elections, residents in most counties appoint someone to this position. The majority of county auditors are certified public accountants with a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance and years of experience in the field.
Real estate-related tasks are among the most important services a county auditor must provide. When someone buys or sells a property, the auditor calculates the tax rate so that the owner knows how much tax to pay. These rates are determined factors such as whether or not the property has a structure on it, as well as its location and size. To make a final determination on the tax value, the auditor must also conduct a property appraisal and assessment.
A county auditor’s other responsibilities include preparing financial reports for the county. The county auditor is also the chief fiscal officer in most counties, and is responsible for accounting for the tax money received the county for city organizations such as school districts, libraries, and county departments. The auditor must provide an accounting that shows where the money comes from and how it is distributed to the agencies. This person must also keep track of the agencies’ expenses, including copies of receipts and payments. The auditor issues an annual report at the end of the year that includes a financial report for each county agency.
A county auditor’s additional responsibilities include ensuring that vendors and other entities obtain the necessary licenses. To buy and sell merchandise, most jurisdictions require vendors to obtain licenses. A vendor may also be required to obtain additional licenses in order to sell specific items such as firearms, tobacco, or alcohol. In some counties, auditors are also in charge of ensuring that dog owners obtain licenses to keep their dogs on the premises. This is beneficial to the dog owner because the auditor includes a tag with the license that includes the owner’s name and address. Instead of taking the dog to the pound, if animal control finds a lost licensed dog, the county can get the owner’s information from the tag and call the owner.
A county auditor’s other responsibilities include assisting the public with public record searches. Before buying a house or a piece of land, many people want to know the tax value of the property. Others may require a property map in order to have their property surveyed. The auditor can assist the public in searching for documents in the auditor’s office or on the county auditor’s website.