Ada County's assessor reported at the Nov. 4 meeting that the office has begun a residential reappraisal requiring appraisers to inspect about 45,000 parcels.

The department will take street-level photos and update property characteristics. Staff are sending postcards to property owners that include a code allowing owners to review and, if necessary, update details such as bedroom and bathroom counts, fireplaces and other characteristics on the assessor's web portal. Property owners who prefer a follow-up physical inspection can request one using the same portal.

"By state law, we do have to, go to the property and, we take a picture of it," an assessor representative said, explaining the statutory requirement for an on-the-ground inspection at least once every five years. The office said the in-person inspections give appraisers a better understanding of neighborhood conditions and help them answer owner questions during appeals.

The assessor's office also presented an agreement for oblique aerial imagery with Vexcel Imaging. Staff described oblique imagery (high-resolution, flown imagery) as a complement to street photos that helps verify square footage or detect additions and other property features not visible in standard aerial views.