The tax assessor shall make, or cause to be made, a complete plat book or books of all real estate in the county, unless such book or books have already been provided, in a form to be prescribed by the Department of Revenue, in which the name of the owner shall be entered on each separate subdivision. To the person performing the work of making the plat books required by this section and Section 40-7-37, there shall be paid out of the general fund of the county a reasonable compensation, to be fixed by the governing body of the county at not less than $150 for each book of 400 pages or more, which debt shall be a preferred claim against the county; provided, that in any county where the tax assessor is on a salary basis, the additional compensation provided for in this section shall not be applicable.