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DEC -03 -1993 11:05 FROM Ramsey Co Tax Rec TO 9644EEi5 P. 01 f FROM RAMSEY COUNTY ASSESSOR THE COMPUTER ASSISTED MASS APPRAISAL PROCESS FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN RAMSEY COUNTY Since the mid- 1970's, Ramsey County has been using a CAMA (Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal) system to assist in valuing all residen- tial property in Ramsey County on an annual basis. LAMA systems operate by identifying the contribution to market value that certain property characteristics (such as size, ace, and location) give to individual properties. Some CAMA systems will rely on as few as five or six such variables, while other systems will rely on as many as 50 variables. Ramsey County utilizes approximately 25 broad categories of varia- bles in its CAMA system. The contributory value of the different property characteristics is determined by analyzing all of the several thousand residential sales that occur in Ramsey County each year. This analysis results in the development of a computer model (or formula) which is then used to estimate the market value of each residential parcel in the County_ Location is one of the more important variables. For example, a home located in one part of the County may sell for a substantially different amount than an identical home located elsewhere in the County. Our staff has identified approximately 85 distinct neigh borhoods throughout Ramsey County. Through the sales analysis mentioned earlier, the Assessor's office is able to track the upward and downward trends in value that occur in different neighborhoods over time. Appraisers from the Assessor's office by law review the property characteristics of every property in the County at least once every four years. When an appraiser discovers a data change, such as ar addition to a house, this will change the property characteristics against which the computer model is applied, and this could result in a change in the estimated market value of that property_ When an appraiser from the Assessor's office reviews a property, it does not necessarily mean that the value of that property wil: automatically increase. The computer model must be applied to th* characteristics that Were collected during this review to determin4 whether or not a change in the estimated market value of th. property is called for. This CAMA system allows the Ramsey County Assessor's office to track and respond to upward and downward valuation trends through• out the county each year and adjust the estimated market values o: each property on an individual basis.