The geospatial tool uses satellite imagery to support local governments as they verify applications for the differential tax assessment of agricultural land.
This screenshot was taken from a Landcue project in Fairfield County, Ohio. Image courtesy of Woolpert
Gallia County, Ohio (April 29, 2022) — Gallia County (Ohio) Auditor Robbie Jacks has joined Woolpert in a pilot program implementing Landcue, a geospatial tool that will increase the efficiency of Ohio’s Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) process. Landcue was developed to help local governments like Gallia County verify applications for the differential tax assessment of agricultural land.
Landcue uses satellite imagery to accurately determine the crop type or land cover within agricultural fields. It was designed to reduce the need for human inspection and provide insights about land development and related trends. The imagery collected via Landcue is detailed enough to support environmental and agriculture purposes but is not capable of discerning people or vehicles.
According to the Ohio Department of Taxation, farmland devoted exclusively to commercial agriculture may be valued according to its current use rather than at its “highest and best” potential use for property tax purposes. By employing current and defensible imagery through Landcue, permitting values can be set well below true market values and result in a substantially lower tax bill for working farmers.
Jacks said the accurate land-use determination provided through Landcue also will improve record-keeping, which is invaluable for property owners who live out of state. The increased efficiency of the tool also enables his staff to focus on more urgent and complicated tasks, reallocating resources for local schools, emergency responders and other essential services funded by the county.
“The Landcue app utilizes data and imagery to assess value based on what farmers are growing, saving time and effort for our staff and improving efficiencies and transparency for our farmers,” Jacks said. “As technology continues to advance, we routinely examine affordable and effective opportunities to best support our constituents. Being involved in this pilot program to see if it is beneficial to Gallia County taxpayers at no cost is an easy decision.”
About Woolpert
Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is an ENR Top 150 Global Design Firm, has earned six straight Great Place to Work certifications and actively nurtures a culture of growth, inclusion, diversity and respect. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been America’s fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. The firm has 1,900 employees and more than 60 offices on four continents. For more, visit woolpert.com.
