"Explaining A Decision Is No Longer Enough": Local Governments Face Rising Valuation Appeals, Federal Funding Uncertainty And A Wave Of Retirements In Assessment Offices

The next era of government demands documentation, automation and disciplined execution, the topics of Futureview East

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Eagleview, an aerial imagery and geospatial intelligence company, today announced that Futureview East, held in September 2026, at the Louisville Marriott Downtown, brought together 323 local government leaders and partners. As counties and municipalities confront fiscal, legal and workforce pressures and accelerate their use of automation and AI, the conference centered on one priority: to help government officials understand the role of defensible data as they scale automations in both crisis planning and response.

"Local governments are being asked to do more, with less certainty and under closer scrutiny than at any point in recent memory," said Piers Dormeyer, Chief Executive Officer, Eagleview. "When a valuation or disaster claim is challenged, an explanation alone does not hold up. Evidence does. Progress begins with documentation that is accurate, current and defensible."

The conference also marked a milestone for Eagleview: Futureview, first held in Orlando, Florida, in 2006, celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

Documentation as the first line of defense

In his opening address, Eagleview CEO Piers Dormeyer framed the forces reshaping county and municipal government: uncertainty in federal funding, property tax measures advancing in multiple states, rising valuation appeals, and a retirement wave carrying decades of institutional knowledge out of assessment offices. Valuation appeals are a clear case in point: when a property's assessed value is challenged, the local government must be able to show its work. In this environment, he argued, local governments must do more than explain their decisions. They must be able to prove them.

Automation raises the standard for evidence

Eagleview's product and AI leaders showed how the company is helping customers move from imagery to answers. Its capabilities identify what exists, detect what has changed, explain why it matters and recommend next steps. As more decisions are automated, the integrity of the underlying evidence will determine whether those decisions withstand review.

"Every answer we deliver should be traceable to documentation our customers can stand behind," shared Dylan Kesler, Head of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at Eagleview.

Bold ambition requires disciplined execution

Keynote speaker Gregory L. Robinson, who led NASA's James Webb Space Telescope program to a successful launch after years of delays, urged attendees to pursue AI, data analytics and other emerging technologies with confidence. Drawing on Webb's turnaround, he emphasized that ambitious programs succeed through culture: transparent communication that rebuilds trust, openness to new ideas, and a disciplined balance between speed and process.

Attendees also reflected on the value of the event:

"I've been to multiple Futureview conferences, and they've always been great. [Eagleview does] a great job, and I'm so glad to be back." 
— Josh Wadsworth, Washington County, Utah

"This is my first time at this conference, and I can say I'm pleasantly pleased with everything I've seen so far. I was very inspired by Mr. Gregory Robinson's presentation. Not only did it speak to technology, but [it was] also inspirational for those who are in leadership." 
— Shawnta Privette, Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Continuing the conversation in Fort Worth

To mark Futureview's 20th anniversary and give more customers and partners the opportunity to participate, Eagleview is holding two meetings: Futureview East and Futureview West. The schedule gives organizations flexibility to choose the season that best fits their calendar, recognizing that some government teams have busier fall schedules while others have busier spring schedules.

Futureview West will take place in Fort Worth, Texas, in April 2027. Registration is expected to open in November 2026. Eagleview will share registration details with organizations that have passes.

About Eagleview

Eagleview is an industry leader in geospatial intelligence (GeoAI) delivering AI-powered property intelligence solutions that enable customers across a broad range of industries to accurately explore properties and structures, identify and implement solutions today, and find tomorrow's opportunities. For more than 25 years, Eagleview has built proprietary property imaging technology earning more than 300+ patents and generating over 3.5 billion high-resolution images resulting in a library that encompasses 96% of the U.S. population. With Eagleview's trusted insights, customers can make business decisions that matter.

SOURCE Eagleview Technologies, Inc.