Former Columbia County Assessor Sandra Cawyer has been appointed as the director of the Arkansas Assessment Coordination Division, state Finance and Administration Secretary Larry Walther announced Tuesday.
Cawyer started work Monday in her new job, which pays $108,110 a year, said finance department spokesman Scott Hardin. The Assessment Coordination Division is part of the Department of Finance and Administration.
Bear Chaney, who is a former Benton County assessor, said Tuesday that he retired as division director at the end of March.
The Assessment Coordination Division works with county assessors to promote and oversee fair, equitable and uniform property tax treatment for all taxpayers, local government officials and school districts, according to the finance department.
"Sandra has the experience and relationships needed to understand the role property taxes play in Arkansas, and I am excited to have her leadership and perspective at DFA," Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in a news release issued by the finance department.
Cawyer began her career in county government in 1999. She has completed more than 200 hours of appraisal classes and has been awarded with the designation of senior appraiser from the state, according to the finance department.
Cawyer served the past nine years as Columbia County assessor and recently resigned from the post.
She was named Assessor of the Year in Arkansas in 2015, according to the finance department. In 2017, she received the Kenneth Eddy Memorial Award from the Arkansas Assessor's Association and a Career Achievement Award from South Arkansas Women's Network.
"I am very impressed with Sandra's positive leadership style and technical knowledge," Walther said. "She will continue the great work of ACD while focusing on customer service and county outreach."
State Revenue Commissioner Charlie Collins said that "accurate assessments ensure school districts throughout the state are properly funded."
"If assessments are inaccurate and inconsistent, school districts feel the consequences. Sandra understands this and brings a thorough understanding and knowledge of the process to ACD," he said.