The Transylvania County Commissioners appointed Jessica McCall as the new County Tax Administrator at their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, December 12.
McCall is a 1995 graduate of Rosman High School. She received her Associates Degree in Business Administration from Blue Ridge Community College in 1997. That same year, she accepted a position as a Tax Assistant in the same office she has been tasked to run.
Over the years, McCall held a variety of positions within the tax department and was most recently a Business Personal Property Appraiser. In 2000, the North Carolina Department of Revenue certified McCall as a certified North Carolina Real Property Appraiser and a North Carolina Personal Property Appraiser.
“My goals are to maintain the exceptional collection rate we’ve worked so hard to achieve, ensure that taxes are fair and equitable for all our citizens, and continue delivering the best customer service through our dedicated staff,” said McCall.
Transylvania County has maintained one of the top collection rates in the state of North Carolina for the past nine years. The 2015 tax collection rate was 99.87%.
The 19-year veteran of the tax administration office, who assumes her duties on Tuesday, December 13th, will oversee a department of fourteen staffers.
In addition to being a longtime employee of Transylvania County, Mrs. McCall has deep roots in the county. Her family goes back seven generations, “back to the Daniel Boone days,” said McCall.
She currently lives in the Cathey’s Creek community with her husband Jonathan and their two children. She is an active member of the Middle Fork Baptist Church.
“We are very pleased to have Ms. Jessica McCall as our new Transylvania County Tax Administrator,” said Transylvania County Commission Chair Larry Chapman. “She, along with other well qualified candidates, went through a very extensive interview and evaluation process.”
That process included being given real life management scenarios to gain perspective on their critical thinking, communication, and technical skill sets. In addition, a cross-section of county residents – county commissioners, local professionals and peers – interviewed the candidates.
“Overall, the process was designed to provide the commissioners with a comprehensive look at each candidate, including their current skill sets as well as their potential for professional growth and development,” said County Manager Jaime Laughter. “Tax administration is a key department for county government and it is very important that it function at a high level. I’m looking forward to working with Mrs. McCall in her new role.”
Chapman underscored the importance of McCall’s position in county government.
“The responsibilities range from the daily collections of taxes in order to keep the county government functioning to ensuring the property evaluations are fair and equitable across the county,” said Chapman. “The Tax Administrator interacts not only with the local staff but across functional lines both locally and at the state level. This position requires the highest level of professionalism, exceptional leadership skills and detailed knowledge regarding tax laws. We’re confident this department is in good hands with Mrs. McCall at the helm.”
McCall will replace Assistant Tax Administrator Shasta Moretz who has been serving as the interim administrator since June.
“On behalf of the board of commissioners, I would like to thank Mrs. Moretz for being willing to step into the role of interim tax administrator,” said Chapman. “She led the department and assured that business continued uninterrupted during the assessment process. Her ongoing dedication to the county and to serving our citizens is greatly appreciated.”
To view Jessica's bio, click here.