Clara Stinson

TAX: Clara Stinson, Business Personal Property Appraiser
Years with the County: 23 years, 4 months, and 10 days (lol)

Briefly describe your job. What do you do?
Assist businesses in Catawba County with listing their business personal property such as machinery, furniture, fixtures, computers, etc. Key the reported returns into our tax system for billing. Review audits performed by TMA and bill audit results. Research and discover businesses that are not reporting to the County for tax purposes.

What is a typical workday like for you?
Well, Jan – June every day is pretty much data entry and assisting taxpayers by phone, emails and walk-ins. We have over 6,000 returns/businesses that must be reviewed and keyed for the July billing.

What is your favorite aspect of your job – what do you enjoy doing most?
I enjoy helping people and hear them laugh or see a smile even during a process of paying “taxes”. I like being able to work with a taxpayer to solve a problem and hopefully the outcome is not too painful for the taxpayer, given we are required to comply by the General Statutes.

What is the County core value you believe most relates to the work you do, and why?
Doing What Matters Most. I believe the reason we are all here is to be of service to others and that includes being of service to our co-workers. It is important to me to prioritize my workload to better serve our taxpayers because their needs and requests should come first. It is also important that I am clear and transparent with the taxpayers when it comes to what is expected of the business requirement of listing and reporting their assets so that there is no surprise at billing.

What do you like best about working for Catawba County?
I like my co-workers…great people. I like the work environment. I know there are a lot of jobs where people just dread going into work every day. Of course, we’ve all had our days when we want to climb back in the bed and stay home but I can honestly say, I have never felt that “dread” of going into work for Catawba County. Benefits are good as well.

Where did you grow up?
Taylorsville, NC

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Traveling, trying new restaurants, puzzles and crafts, mowing the lawn, watching TV.

Favorite movie, TV show, and/or book?
Driving Miss Daisy, Everybody Loves Raymond, Abbott Elementary School, Rookie…the list goes on and on.

Favorite musical artist or genre?
I enjoy all kinds of music…R&B, Country, Jazz. Favorite Jazz-Norman Brown, Country-Dustin Lynch or Chris Stapleton, R&B-Lucky Daye, Musiq Soulchild, Anthony Hamilton, H.E.R.

Favorite sports team(s)?
Don’t really have one, but if I had to choose – Carolina Panthers.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
It would be the power to heal people of illnesses and mental disabilities…no explanation needed.