Assessor highlights automation gains, parcel workload and bills to curb deed fraud and clarify senior protections

The assessor's office presented FY2027 priorities focused on automation and fraud prevention. Executive director Dawn Marie Buckland said automation and process improvements have allowed the office to absorb rising workloads (about 1.9 million parcels/accounts and roughly 10,000 documents a day in related court filings) while maintaining a relatively stable headcount and reducing turnover to under 11% in the last year.

Buckland and STAR contact center director Brent Vaughn described training gains, a virtual agent that resolves a large share of routine online contacts, and planned investments such as a CRM instance for election‑period staffing. The office highlighted concerns about title/deed fraud and proposed statutory fixes: raising penalties for forged deeds, creating an assessor parcel alert system tied to parcel activity, clarifying affidavit of value exceptions (quitclaim deeds), and closing statute‑of‑limitations gaps that can prevent rightful owners from reclaiming property.

They also raised senior valuation protection language clarifications and proposed asking voters whether renewal every three years is required. The assessor said the office will continue collaborations with the recorder, auditor general and Department of Revenue on policy and technical solutions. Board members requested follow‑up on how settlements and fee impacts are tracked and whether tax‑court capacity needs review.