MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Sixteen tax assessors and appraisers from throughout Mississippi recently participated in the Certified Appraiser School at Mississippi State University.

The March 3-7 and March 17-21 training sessions were conducted by the Mississippi Department of Revenue and coordinated by the MSU Extension Service Center for Government and Community Development.

Jason Camp, Extension associate and project manager with the center, facilitated the training. He said the Mississippi Tax Assessor Education and Certification Program was developed in 1979 for assessors and appraisers to acquire legislatively mandated certification.

“Assessors and appraisers are members of a profession requiring a high level of competence,” Camp said. “The program offers ongoing educational opportunities for Mississippi’s assessors and appraisers to gain greater expertise and professionalism. The ultimate beneficiaries of the program are the citizens of the state, who receive improved services from their state and local governments.”

Ten days of intensive training are held during two five-day sessions each year on the MSU campus.

The assessor school subjects include mapping, urban and agricultural land valuation and preparing and maintaining tax rolls. Individual sessions included topics such as appraisal of residential, personal and commercial property.

Participants are required to pass two exams during the course.

For more information about the MSU Extension Center for Government and Community Development.