South Australia's new valuer-general Delfina Lanzilli defends annual property valuations The state's first female valuer-general Delfina Lanzilli. THE state's first female valuer-general has defended the annual property valuation process despite fielding thousands of objections each year. Delfina Lanzilli has been promoted to the position for a five-year term by the State Government, after acting in the role for 12 months. The 46-year-old's 25- year career includes stints in both local and state government. One of her first tasks will be to sign off on the valuation of more than 880,000 residential and commercial properties, together worth about $350 billion. The State Valuation Office typically receives more than 3000 objections each year. Having spent seven years as a compliance manager, Ms Lanzilli has dealt first-hand with many of those. "The number of objections that we receive each year is generally less than 1 per cent of the total valuation base," she said. And then generally half of that 1 per cent are successful (in having a property revalued). In the past two years, just over half of the 10,681 people who challenged the official valuation of their property had the figure reduced. "At the end of the day I think the objection process works very well for property owners and that's the idea that people have the opportunity to contact us if they don't agree with their value," Ms Lanzilli said. Valuations for the 2014 financial year, which form the basis of state government charges including Land Tax and SA Water bills, are due to be gazetted on Thursday May 30. Taking the reins of an office employing 100 staff, Ms Lanzilli acknowledges there will be pressure to deliver budget savings. "I think it's challenging for anyone in government at the moment and we're looking at bringing in efficiencies," she said. It can become a little bit bureaucratic for property owners and if there are ways to make it easier for the community when it comes to their inquiries then we're happy to look at that. And obviously we'll try to reduce our expenses if we can. Job cuts weren't ruled out. "I haven't got to that part as yet but I think with anybody who's trying to drive a business forward you look at the best solution you possibly can," Ms Lanzilli said.