The Warren County Commissioners have selected a firm — Vision Government Services — to conduct property tax reassessment. The county has one of the oldest assessments in the state (1989), which has resulted in significant inconsistencies.

There are just two firms in the state that can complete the work – Vision Government Services and Tyler Technologies. Both submitted a proposal for the county in advance of Monday’s deadline.

Both proposals projected a cost in excess of $1.7 million and were within 1% of each other.

The topic has been discussed for many years.

Commissioner Ben Kafferlin said when he first started studying the issue eight to nine years ago it was “very much uncertain whether it was necessary,” especially relative to the cost. “But we know, of course, that there is a good that will come out of it,” he said. “Properties will be equal. … It needs to be done.”

The county has “appropriately set aside money to do it” and said it would now be a “disservice” to the county’s residents to not proceed.

Commissioner Tricia Durbin said that there are “facts behind the need.

“From every angle,” she said, “it’s very clear.”

Durbin said that Solicitor Nathaniel Schmidt and Chief Assessor Brian Bull made the specific vendor recommendation to the commissioners.

“The reassessment process is pretty expansive as far as the scope of the project,” Schmidt said. “The biggest criteria … that separated the two of them” was Vision’s “ability to accomplish the reassessment project in a timely basis.”

He said the firm is currently working through a similar project in Clarion County and has the staff readily available to shift to Warren. They also offered a “package that had a really good public relations project,” he added. “It’s very important the public understand what each step is going to entail.”

Commissioner Jeff Eggleston noted that Vision was not “the lowest bidder technically” but Schmidt said because they were within 1% that he and Bull “didn’t see that as a major distinguishing factor.”

“We were satisfied with both,” Schmidt added, noting Vision has been doing similar projects with counties of similar size to Warren.

“I was more impressed with Vision and the ability they had to wrap around the county employees,” Durbin said.

Eggleston said he was initially supportive of going with the lowest bidder but said Vision’s proposal was “convincing enough” with a “menu” that is “much more complete.”

Schmidt said Wednesday’s vote, which was approved unanimously, would serve as a notice to award and that a contract would be presented to the commissioners to sign “in short order.”