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AN ORDINANCE relating to the qualifications for the members and clerk of the King County board of appeals and equalization; and amending Ordinance 6444, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 2.34.020 and Ordinance 6444, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 2.34.040.

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                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  Ordinance 6444, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 2.34.020 are hereby amended to read as follows:

                     A.1.  The members of the board must possess a background in one or more of the following areas of expertise:  finance; accounting; real estate valuation; administrative law; property tax administration; mediation; construction; and land use.

  2.  The board shall be composed of seven members appointed by the county executive and subject to confirmation by a majority of the county council.

                     B.  The term of office shall be four years, and shall be staggered as follows:  two terms shall commence each year except that every fourth year only one term shall commence.  Board members shall fill the term to which appointed or that portion remaining of an unexpired term.  A member whose term has expired shall continue to serve until a successor has been appointed.  Terms shall commence on July 1.

                     C.  Removal of a member of the board, except upon expiration of the member((’))'s appointed term, shall be only as provided for in Section 710 of the King County Charter.

                     D.  The members of the board shall meet and choose a chair annually to serve from July 15 through July 14 of the following year.

                     E.  A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum in matters of equalization and in matters of appeal from executive orders and regulations.                     

                     SECTION 2.  Ordinance 6444, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 2.34.040 are hereby amended to read as follows:

                     A.  The board shall appoint a clerk of the board as provided by state law.  The clerk of the board must have professional experience in property tax law or commercial real estate valuation.  The clerk, or the clerk((’))'s designee, shall attend all sessions of the board and shall keep the official record thereof.  The clerk is also responsible for managing the administrative staff support of the board.  The county assessor, the director of any executive agency whose orders and regulations are subject to appeal before the board and any member of those agencies((’))' staffs may not serve as the clerk.

                     B.  With the approval of the board and within budgetary constraints, the clerk may appoint assistants the board deems necessary for aiding the board in carrying out its functions.  The clerk and the assistants shall, in accordance with state law, serve at the pleasure of the board and are exempt from career service.  As exempt county employees, the clerk and the assistants shall comply with the same work-related regulations as to exempt employees of the legislative branch of county government.

                     C.  The board may, subject to budgetary constraints, hire on a per diem basis one or more hearing examiners who shall be selected for their knowledge of the values of property in the county and shall subscribe to the same oath as board members.

                     D.  The board shall submit each year to the county council for approval a proposed budget for the following year in the manner provided by law for the preparation and submission of budgets by appointive officials.