Any city with a population of five thousand or greater may, by resolution of its governing body, retain an assessor who is certified or eligible to be certified as a class I assessor who shall retain the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the office. A person may not serve as an assessor for longer than twenty-four months before being certified by the state supervisor of assessments as having met the minimum requirements. The expenses of the city or township assessors must be paid by the city or township exercising this option.
N.D.C.C. § 11-10.1-05