(a) The elected Jefferson County Tax Assessor and the elected Jefferson County Assistant Tax Assessor, Bessemer Division, are empowered to each appoint one person to serve as chief deputy. The appointees shall be residents of their respective divisions of the county at the time of their appointment and so long as they hold the positions of chief deputy.
(b) Chief deputies shall present documentary proof of a minimum of five years' experience in cadastre prior to their appointment, and shall hold certification by the State of Alabama as a tax administrator, or, shall achieve such certification within three years of appointment. If the Alabama certification as tax administrator should cease to be available, appointees shall obtain comparable evidence of technical proficiency as may be required by the appointing authority.
(c) Chief deputies shall be compensated at a rate equal to Jefferson County Merit System Class 30, however, in no event shall such compensation exceed 90 percent of the compensation received by the appointing authority. Funding for the chief deputies shall be prorated on the same basis as is provided for appointing officials, and compensation shall be paid in equal biweekly installments out of the county general fund.
(d) Chief deputies shall receive any and all benefits that are received by Merit System employees, including longevity payments, and if they are Merit System employees at the time of their appointment, they may return to the Merit System upon termination of their appointment as provided in Section 36-26-32.1.