DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / July 26, 2000

CONVENT – In order to ensure that business and industry in St. JamesParish are not overtaxed on their personal properties, assessor Glenn Waguespack requested the council table any action on the ordinance setting and designating the adjusted property tax millage.

Waguespack explained that all the figures accounting for depreciation of value in business equipment, inventories and other furnishings have not yet come in. The depreciation is usually the same, but Waguespack said hedoesn’t want to take any chances.

It was high time for a reappraisal for property tax. Normally parishesreappraise every four years, but St. James would have had to reappraiseanyway by request of the Louisiana Tax Commission, said Waguespack.

Since the last appraisal the value on real property, actual land, rose from $218 million to $227 million. Personal property accounts for 70 percentof the tax roll, and though the depreciation is usually the same, Waguespack thought that in his first appraisal of the parish it was best to double check. “We’ll send the total numbers back to the legislative auditorso they can adjust the millages,” said Waguespack, elected in 1997 after the last appraisal.

With the increase in property value across the parish and the millages so far unchanged, some are worried their property tax will significantly increase. Waguespack explained that those who have been paying taxes onaccurately assessed property will not be paying any extra.

“The state doesn’t want us to lose revenue, but they don’t want us making any extra,” said Waguespack. When property values increase, thelegislative auditor adjusts the tax millages so the income the parish receives remains the same.

“So we always get the same amount. Everyone in turn should pay the sameamount,” said Waguespack. The difference of whether or not one will bepaying more depends on if one was paying on the full value of their property in the past.

“If they were not assessed at the right value in the past, whether the value is up or down, then they will have to pay” a different amount, said Waguespack.

For instance, if a house was valued below $75,000 the owners were allowed a homestead exemption. If their property value has increased, andthe house now valuing more than $75,000, the exemption will not apply and the owners will be paying more.

Also, if owners had not submitted an accurate value of their home due to miscalculated square footage or forgotten new construction and additions, they will be paying more if their property has been more accurately assessed this year.

Though many are worried about an increase in their taxes, Waguespack is double checking and submitting numbers to Paula Jackson at the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office to ensure accurate millages on the parish. Ifone finds that there’s an increase in their tax, it will be due to an increase in their property value or an accurate appraisal of their property.

The millages, whether their raised or lowered, will not effect the tax. Themillages are adjusted to everyone continues to pay the same, said Waguespack.

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