Geographic Information System (GIS) & Mapping

Why We Map

Our mission is to accurately and efficiently identify all property within Kenton County.

Cadastral mapping is a comprehensive land registration of the metes-and-bounds of real property in the county.  A cadastral map commonly includes details of the ownership, the precise location (some include GPS coordinates), the dimensions (and area), the soil classifications (where approriate), and the value of individual parcels of land.

The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications enhance the performance of the Property Valuation Administrator’s (PVA) office and provides the foundation for the development of GIS throughout Kenton County.

The cadastral data for Kenton county, known as the tax assessment role, is maintained by the Property Valuation office.

Tax Maps

Tax maps were originally drawn by hand on blue aerial photographs then transferred to Mylar.  These maps were difficult to keep up-to-date and cumbersome to store and retrieve.

Tax maps maintained as part of a GIS are more easily updated, organized, and shared across departments in local government.  Parcels can be linked to data stored in a Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system, a widely used system for storing tabular information on real property.

A More Efficient Way to Work

GIS also benefits our assessors by improving the quality of valuations.  More factors relating to each property can be considered when determining value. Instead of hunting through paper maps or searching CAD documents, an assessor can query and not only find the parcel immediately but also access related information that previously was kept in separate tabular databases or in filing cabinets.  Square footage and acreage calculations can be performed on the fly.

Knowing the location of the subject property in relation to factors such as flood zones or water frontage improves valuation.  By querying the GIS, assessors can identify all properties with similar use codes, sizes, locations, or other features that affect value in a specified area.

Working Smarter

GIS is also a tool for working smarter.  Thematic mapping makes it easy to spot such things as disparities between selling prices and assessed values or missed assessments.  Land and building values can also be analyzed by neighborhood to help identify areas of concern.  Homogeneous areas can be identified so that mass appraisal techniques can be used to streamline work.

Working smarter extends to the management aspects of running an assessor’s office.  Assessors can be routed to inspections in the most efficient manner.

Working Faster

GIS also improves assessor response to tax relief requests. Many county governments have developed public access applications that allow property owners disputing tax valuations to find out the values of other similar houses in their area. For many, valuation concerns end with this information.

In cases when valuations are contested, GIS provides valuable tools for assessors defending valuations.

Working Efficiently

The Kenton County Internet Map Server is a very cost-effective method for getting up-to-date property information to both the public and other municipal agencies.