Politics
Arkansas Property Valuation Modernization Act to Shift Little Rock Property Tax Assessments Starting 2027
Little Rock homeowners will receive updated property tax bills in early 2027 based on revised assessment methods passed in the state legislature's 2025 session.
How we reported this
The Arkansas Property Valuation Modernization Act updates how county assessors calculate residential property values across the state, including Pulaski County. The legislation requires assessors to incorporate sales data from the most recent 24-month period rather than the prior three-year window. Little Rock residents who own single-family homes will see the first effects when the Pulaski County Assessor's Office issues 2027 tax statements.
State lawmakers approved the measure in May 2025 after review by the Arkansas Legislative Council. The change responds to rapid shifts in housing markets documented in county records from 2023 through 2025. Local officials in Pulaski County began training staff on the new data protocols in March 2026, with full implementation scheduled for the fall assessment cycle.
Timeline for When Residents Will See Changes
Property owners in Little Rock will notice differences when they receive their tax notices between January and March 2027. The Pulaski County Treasurer's office projects that mailed statements will reflect new valuations calculated from closed sales through September 2026. Payments due in April 2027 will be the first based on the updated figures, according to the county's published payment schedule.
Residents who appeal their assessments must file by the deadline set in the legislation, which falls 30 days after receipt of the notice. The Arkansas Assessment Coordination Department has allocated funds for additional hearing officers to handle expected increases in appeals from urban counties. Local advocates note that renters may experience indirect effects if landlords adjust lease rates to cover any tax increases passed through in 2028 renewals.
Local Budget Figures and Expected Adjustments
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration estimates that the statewide reassessment will produce an average valuation increase of 7 percent in Pulaski County, based on preliminary modeling released in the 2026 fiscal year budget documents. For a typical Little Rock home currently assessed at $220,000, the change would raise the taxable value by approximately $15,400 under the new formula. The legislation states that millage rates set by local school districts and city government will remain unchanged for the 2027 tax year.
City of Little Rock budget papers for fiscal year 2027 list property tax revenue at $48.2 million, an amount that will be recalculated once final assessments are certified in December 2026. The government says the policy will generate updated revenue projections by February 2027 for use in the following year's operating plan. County records show that 68,400 residential parcels in Little Rock will undergo the new valuation process.
State agencies will publish quarterly progress reports on the bill tracker maintained by the Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research. Pulaski County officials have scheduled public information sessions for October 2026 to explain individual parcel impacts using the new data inputs.