Lafourche Parish Assessor's Office - 2023 Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

Wendy L. Thibodeaux, CLA Lafourche Parish Assessor

Citizens of Lafourche Parish,

It has been my mission to ensure that everyone is provided with the most up to date financial status of Lafourche Parish. 2023 was another year of rebuild and rebound for the strong residents of our parish. I have shared with you the same hard work and determination exhibited these last few years. I have spent most of 2023 ensuring that Lafourche’s challenges have been heard throughout all levels of government. I testified against FEMA regarding the crippling effects to property owners by the continued insurance rate increases. I participated in Governor Jeff Landry’s Local & Municipal Affairs transition team to ensure that Lafourche is in the forefront of their minds when identifying the impact and possible solutions of local challenges.

As you know, I, the Assessor, am only responsible for the value of the property and NOT to impose the tax liability. Therefore, I have met with local taxing districts and expressed my concerns of rising property taxes compounded with increasing homeowners’ insurance premiums and the negative impact this

has on taxpayers and economic growth. I continue to encourage all districts to be mindful of these factors when authorizing their millage rates that the voters have granted them.

My staff and I hope that you find this report to be informative and are prepared to assist you in providing any answers to questions you may have and continue to work for you to keep Lafourche the place we all love to live, work and raise our families. As always, thank you for entrusting me to serve as your Assessor.

All my love 4 Lafourche,

Wendy L. Thibodeaux, CLA

Wendy L. Thibodeaux, CLA Lafourche Parish Assessor

SPECIAL ASSESSMENT LEVELS

The state of Louisiana allows eligible taxpayers to apply for special assessment levels for their homesteads. If a homeowner remains eligible, the special assessment will “freeze” the taxpayer’s primary residence at its current assessed value.

Below is an overview of available special assessment levels and the requirements for each. Those who are qualified to apply may do so by bringing the required documents to the Assessor’s office during regular business hours.

AGE 65+ FREEZE DISABILITY FREEZE POW/MIA FREEZE

At least one owner of the home must be 65 or older, and owner must reside in home.

Adjusted Gross Income, combined for all owners, cannot exceed $100,000.00 per 2023.

Required Documents: Driver’s License or Birth Certificate, Federal Tax Return

At least one owner of the home must have a service-connected disability with a 100% disability rating, and owner must reside in home.

Adjusted Gross Income, combined for all owners, cannot exceed $100,000.00 per 2023.

Required Documents: Disability Awards Letter, Driver’s License or Birth Certificate, Federal Tax Return

Owner of the home must be a member of the Armed Forces who were Missing in Action (MIA) or were a Prisoner of War (POW) for a period exceeding 90 days.

Required Documents: Please call our office for requirements.

MILITARY & EMERGENCY RESPONDER UNMARRIED SURVIVING SPOUSE EXEMPTION

The surviving spouse, who remains unmarried, of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, Louisiana National Guard, or while performing their duties as a state police officer, or a law enforcement or fire protection officer is entitled to an exemption from ad valorem tax for the total assessed value of their homestead.

Required Documents: Please call our office for requirements.

DISABLED VETERANS FREEZE DISABLED VETERANS ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

At least one owner of the home must be a veteran with a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating, or the surviving spouse of a veteran with a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating, and owner must reside in home.

Required Documents: Disability Awards Letter, Driver’s License or Birth Certificate

Owner of the home must reside in the home and be a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran, identified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs with a service-connected disability rating as stated below shall be eligible for an increase in homestead exemption.

The homestead exemption would increase from $75,000 as follows:

• Service-connected disability rating of 50% - 70% shall be eligible for an additional exemption in the amount of $25,000

• Service-connected disability rating of 70% - 99% shall be eligible for an additional exemption in the amount of $45,000

• Service-connected disability rating of 100% shall be eligible for an additional exemption in the FULL AMOUNT of fair market value of the home

Required Documents: Disability Awards Letter, Driver’s License or Birth Certificate

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

In order to qualify for homestead exemption, one must own and occupy the house as his/her primary residence. Regardless of how many houses are owned, no one is entitled to more than one homestead exemption. With a maximum of $7,500 of assessed value, except in those parishes whereby voters approved an additional exemption of the assessed valuation on property receiving the homestead, which is owned and occupied by a veteran with a service connected disability rating of 50% - 100% by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation. You must go into the Assessor’s office and apply for homestead exemption as soon as you purchase and occupy your home. You are required, by law, to notify the Assessor’s office if you change residence

NUMBER OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS IN 2023: 29,011

NUMBER OF 100% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS IN 2023: 10,290

TOTAL HOMESTEAD VALUE FOR 2023: $21,954,689.47

HOW ARE MY PROPERTY TAXES DETERMINED?

Your property taxes are not set by the Assessor, property taxes are set by taxing districts and you the voter.

The Assessor determines the fair market value of your property. Fair market value is determined by using local sales data, cost, and market trends. The Assessor then calculates the “assessed value” of your property, which is a percentage of the fair market value. The percentage of the market value used in this calculation is provided for by law. Take away — The Assessor does not impose your tax liability, the Assessor determines the Fair Market Value of your property which is the first step in the formula that determines your property taxes.

Residents vote for millages to fund taxing district’s ability to provide governmental services. The millage rates that VOTERS approved are then applied to the assessed value to determine your property taxes. The taxing body is NOT required to levy the maximum millage every year and can levy any rate from zero to the maximum voter approved rate. Once a taxing body adopts a millage rate for the year, the Legislative Auditor approves the millage rate not the Assessor. Take away — the assessed value is multiplied by the millage rates approved by the voters and taxing districts to determine your property taxes.

WHERE ARE MY EXEMPTIONS?

A property exemption is a reduction or elimination of property taxes on a specific property for parish taxes only. This does not include taxes due to municipalities or special assessment fees. Property exemptions are approved by voters and eligibility is determined by law, not the Assessor. Exemptions are deducted from the total assessed value. (See more on page 3 for detailed list of exemptions and their requirements)

WHY DO MY TAXES CHANGE WHEN THE ASSESSOR HAS NOT CHANGED MY VALUE?

Your total tax due may change year to year as millage rates increase or decrease. Taxing districts have the authority to increase or decrease the voter approved millage rate each year. The taxing districts levy these millages annually. A decrease in millage rates may decrease the amount of taxes due — an increase in millage rates result in an increase of total taxes due.

REASSESSMENT 2024: HOW DOES REAPPRAISAL WORK?

Every four years, according to the Louisiana Constitution (CONST 7 18, PART II. Property Taxation 18. § Ad Valorem Taxes), all property subject to taxation shall be reappraised and valued at intervals of not more than four years.

ASSESSOR’S ROLE

LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR ROLE

BREAKDOWN PROPERTIES

All properties in the parish are assigned to a neighborhood by like, kind, and similar qualities.

REVIEW SALES

The Assessor’s office reviews cost and sales from the past four years (2020-2023).

MARKET VALUE DETERMINED AVERAGE ESTABLISHED

An average market value for each neighborhood/ area is determined.

MILLAGE RATES ARE ADJUSTED

During a reassessment year the Louisiana Legislative Auditor adjusts the millage rate of each taxing district.

Millage rates are adjusted to ensure there are no INCREASES in revenue for the district due to reassessment.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor notifies each taxing district of their adjusted rate to initiate the decision of the district to increase/roll forward their millage rate.

TAXING DISTRICT ROLE

The average market value is then applied to the square footage of each property and individual property value is determined.

OUTLIERS INDENTIFIED

All properties are reviewed for abnormalities. Any outliers are removed.

NOTIFICATIONS

The Assessor mails notification of value letters to property owners.

DISTRICTS LEVY MILLAGES

The district now considers their adjusted millage rate, the funds required to operate their district and most importantly, additional revenue derived from new property the Assessor adds to the 2024 tax roll. New property increases revenue WITHOUT increasing millages/taxes.

If after all considered the district decides to increase/roll forward their millage rate they must hold a public meeting to notify the public of this increase, as this results in higher taxes for property owners.

PROPERTY OWNER ROLE

HOW CAN YOU STAY INFORMED?

Review your current millages as well as upcoming elections for new and renewals of millages.

Stay current with taxing district communications. Taxing districts must advertise and hold a public meeting annually if they decide to increase/rollforward their millage rate.

Go out and vote! New and renewals of millages must be approved by a majority vote of the people within that taxing district. If you don’t vote or attend district meetings, your voices can’t be heard.

The Lafourche Parish Assessor has the responsibility of discovery, listing, and valuation of all property within the parish boundaries. All taxable property valued by the Assessor is then taxed ad valorem, or “according to value” by each of the various taxing districts listed. Each taxing district levies these rates during public meetings held every year.

2023 MILLAGE RATES FOR PROPERTY IN LAFOURCHE PARISH

Tax rates are expressed as a millage, based on the Latin word “thousandth,” each millage listed represents the total tax levied per $1,000 of taxable assessed value.

AD VALOREM ASSESSED VALUES

The largest value increase has been Business Personal Property over the past five years with continuous year-over-year growth.

The largest decreases in value have been in watercraft and oil & gas respective to the decline of the oil economy.

STAFF

ASSESSOR WENDY THIBODEAUX

Wendy is a six (6) time IAAO certified Assessor with over six hundred (600) hours of assessment education. Wendy is also the only Assessor in the state to earn a certification in vessel valuation, by Lloyd’s Maritime Academy.

*These employees have met the requirements to receive accreditation from the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) as Certified Louisiana Deputy Assessors

LAFOURCHE PARISH ASSESSOR’S OFFICE

NORTH LAFOURCHE

403 St. Louis St. Thibodaux, LA 70301

Ph: (985) 447-7242

Fax: (985) 447-8060

CENTRAL LAFOURCHE

710 Church St. Lockport, LA 70374

Ph: (985) 532-0011

Open Tuesday & Thursdays Only

SOUTH LAFOURCHE

131 East 91st St. Cut Off, LA 70345

Ph: (985) 632-6933

First Row Left to Right: Tori Chiasson, *Kaitlynn Edwards, *Wendy Thibodeaux, *Lauren Bourgeois, Shirley Verdin, Rachel Terrebonne,*Britni Bouzigard

Second Row Left to Right: Randi Robert, *Jessica Swift, Yvette Bruce, *Rosalind Benoit, Riechelle Roy, Stacey Weimer, *Ryan Friedlander, Joni Callais