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Assessor urges Pulaski County to reconsider pictometry purchase to capture solar tax revenue
Summary
An assessor and a commissioner urged the council to reconsider buying pictometry software, saying it would improve accuracy for large solar developments and could pay for itself in a few years based on example assessments; council action was not taken at this meeting.
A county commissioner and assessor raised renewed calls for Pulaski County to purchase pictometry (aerial‑imaging and mapping tool) to improve property assessments for large solar projects and other properties.
Speaker 2 said the council had not approved pictometry and relayed concerns from the assessor about missing revenue and field‑work safety. He said the assessor’s office and treasury modeled example values showing a large difference between agricultural and solar assessments on 100‑acre parcels. "For example, on Rich Grove a 100 acres in ag would be $2,748," he said, and cited an assessor office calculation of a comparable solar assessed value of roughly $17,758 for 100 acres. He added that, in his calculation, about 300 acres of solar development would cover the pictometry program cost and recommended the council reconsider the purchase and consider asking developers to share costs proportionate to acreage.
Council members and commissioners discussed options for funding the software, hiring staff or contracting for three years at an estimated $95,000 per year to establish a baseline. One councilor noted the building department and assessor have had trouble getting accurate maps and permitting information from solar developers. The discussion ended with a request to move on to other agenda items; no formal motion to purchase pictometry was recorded.
Next steps: Speaker 2 said he would provide assessment examples to councilors; staff suggested reconsideration at a future meeting so the assessor can complete the necessary work to assess solar acreage accurately.
