GISValTech2025

A case study of GIS use in the 2023 countywide reappraisal conducted by the Franklin County Auditor’s office. The Auditor and GIS Director will share approaches to determine values, prepare constituents, and track the impacts of historic value increases while striving to incorporate best practices for appraisal, minimizing bias, and incorporating new technologies.

New software was utilized by appraisers to collect data for sketch validation and parcel descriptions. A GIS application helped appraisers reconfigure neighborhood delineations and visualize property characteristics easily. A new website, “Know your Home Value” was introduced that allowed constituents to compare their home values with their neighbors and included a tax estimator. This work continued to track the appellate process and address concerns and questions resulting from the value and related tax changes.

Constituent engagement was focused on accessibility and transparency. In 9 months leading up to the release of the proposed values, over 100 community presentations shared GIS maps, delineated neighborhoods, and sales review comparisons to prepare the constituents for the forecasted value increases while a targeted public relations campaign addressed the factors that went into this “perfect storm”.