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Walsh County assessor proposes countywide aerial imagery and phased, lower-cost residential reappraisal
Summary
The county tax director asked commissioners to fund a $102,748 share of an EagleView aerial‑imagery project and start a scaled, multi‑year residential reappraisal using temporary data collectors as an alternative to a full commercial reappraisal contract estimated at roughly $835,000.
Walsh County's tax director told commissioners on July 22 that the assessor's office is seeking new tools and limited seasonal help to address residential valuation equity.
The tax director presented two linked requests: a countywide 3‑D aerial imagery project from EagleView and a plan to hire temporary seasonal data collectors to perform a phased residential reappraisal. He said the imagery quote for the entire county came in just under $121,000; with the City of Grafton opting in for an estimated $18,000, Walsh County's share would be $102,748, payable over three years ($34,250 per year beginning in 2026).
The imagery, the tax director said, would allow staff to measure structures and rooflines remotely and inspect yards and improvements that are inaccessible or on private property. “We can do it right from the office,” he said, noting it would reduce mileage and give appraisers a reliable visual baseline for parcels currently lacking details.
The office also outlined a lower‑cost alternative to a single‑year, countywide commercial reappraisal proposal it received from Vanguard. Vanguard’s initial quote for a combined residential and commercial reassessment was about $835,000 (roughly $555,000 for commercial and the remainder for residential). The assessor proposes instead to fund aerial imagery and hire two temporary data collectors working about 24 weeks (40 hours per week) at an estimated $20 per hour for residential work over five to six years. The presentation listed the total near‑term request with imagery and staffing at about $247,289.
The tax director emphasized that commercial reappraisal requires specialist contract work and said Vanguard remains the recommended vendor for commercial valuation, while the imagery plus local data‑collector approach could be a cost‑effective path for residential equity. He said payback from increased taxable values is uncertain because state caps limit some annual valuation increases, but that new growth and uncovered improvements would not be capped and could improve revenue.
Commissioners asked about timing, grant options and whether other jurisdictions would participate; the tax director said Grafton had committed and Park River had declined. He also said FEMA or other hazard‑mitigation grants sometimes support mapping or plan work and that the county could seek grants or spread the imagery cost over three years.
The assessor asked commissioners to consider adding the imagery and data‑collector funding to the 2026 preliminary budget so work could start in spring 2026. Commissioners did not take a formal vote during the presentation; several members said they considered the proposal important and asked staff for more detailed cost/benefit breakdowns before final approval.
If commissioners approve the imagery request, the county would pay about $34,250 in each of 2026–2028, and the assessor would return with a more detailed hiring plan and a comparison to a full Vanguard contract.
