Celebrating National Assessors Day: Kaua‘i County Real Property Division employees tour local farm for hands-on training

International Association of Assessing Officers and Kaua‘i County in celebration of National Assessors Day — which was observed Sept. 30 — encourage the public and industry partners to honor the vital role assessors play in the Garden Isle’s communities.

Kaua‘i County Real Property Division earlier this year sent 21 staff members on a farm tour to better understand the intricacies of operating a bonified farm operation. It included appraisers, clerical staff, tax collectors, technical staff, supervisors, tax managers and the county’s Deputy Director of Finance.

Assessors are responsible for determining the value of real property for taxation purposes. Property tax revenues fund essential services such as law enforcement, fire protection, road maintenance and many other programs that directly benefit the community.

“Our assessors play a vital role in maintaining trust and equity within our community,” said Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami in a county release. “On National Assessors Day, we celebrate their commitment to professionalism, transparency and service, which directly supports the well-being of our island.”

These government employees are trained to establish fair market value of property — defined as the price agreed upon between a willing buyer and willing seller in an informed transaction.

It is important to note that assessors determine property values for tax purposes, but tax rates are set by governing bodies such as city, county or town councils.

International Association of Assessing Officers members are committed to ensuring fair and equitable property valuation. Addressing valuation disparities requires cooperation among assessors, policymakers and the community to identify issues and prevent future inequities.

International Association of Assessing Officers emphasizes the following cornerstones of sound assessment practices:

• Appraising properties regularly to determine fair market value.
• Following International Association of Assessing Officers technical standards on assessment and office operations.
• Allocating adequate resources to jurisdictions to carry out the assessing function in accordance with best practices.
• Providing assessors and assessing staff with training and ongoing professional development.

The association’s technical standards also guide assessment professionals, policymakers and administrators. The organization’s code of ethics reinforces public trust, requiring members to uphold principles of accountability, transparency, inclusivity and responsiveness.

National Assessors Day highlights the role of assessors in maintaining fair property values that in turn helps fund critical government services for the community.

Learn more about how Real Property assessors make their assessments by watching a Kaua‘i County Real Property Assessment video.

Contact the Real Property Division at 808-241-4224, email to rpassessment@kauai.gov or visit the Real Property website for additional information.