General Information
As you may know, it is that time of year when millage increase votes are being considered at local parish entity meetings. Several constituents have inquired about how millages work, and I wanted to address that in this newsletter as well as discuss upcoming meetings and recent actions on millages that affect our area.
When discussing millage rates, some key terms are important to understand.
Ad Valorem: according to the value. Taxes are assesed a dollar amount according to property value.
Adjusted Maximum Millage: maximum authorized millage as adjusted by reassessment
Maximum Authorized Levy: maximum millage rate that may be levied in a tax year
Mill: 1/10 (one-tenth) of one cent
Reassessment: process mandated by the Louisiana Constitution to revalue all property subject to taxation
Roll Forward: increasing the millage rate after reassessment to a rate not in excess of the "prior year's
minimum"
Reappraisel/ Reassessment takes place every four years and mandates the adjustment of ad valorem taxes either up or down depending on property value. If during reassessment there is a decrease in taxable property value, the millage rate will be increased so that the same dollar amount will be received as the previous year. If there is an increase in taxable value, millage rates will decrease so that the same dollar amount will be received as the previous year. If the taxable property value stays the same, no adjustments to the millage rates will be made.
For further general information on how millage rates work, please click here.
Local Upcoming Meetings
Fire Protection District 4 will be holding a meeting on August 16, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Fire Station located at 709 Girod Street in Mandeville. The district is requesting a millage increase of $467,190 for additional equipment.
The St. Tammany Parish Assessor's Office will hold a meeting at 11:00am on August 23, 2011 at the Assessor's Office, 701 N. Columbia Street in Covington. Here is an article discussing the announcement made that the Assessor will keep her millage rate the same.
St. Tammany Fire District 3 is requesting voters to renew a 25 millage rate for 10 years starting in 2013. The vote will be held on October 22, 2011. The Fire District previously decreased its millage.
Already Voted on Millage Rates
Below I have listed millages that have already been decided on this year as well as links to articles for further information.
St. Tamany Parish Fire District 1 rolled up one mill, bringing them to 30 mills. Their meeting was held on July 19.
On July 5, the Northshore Harbor Center's board voted to decrease their millage rate.
The millage rate for the St. Tammany Parish Schools was voted on May 5, 2011, and it was decided that the millage will stay the same. They have rolled back 19 mills since 1992.
This information is graciously provided by Louisiana State Representative Tim Burns, and courtesy of Tina Paretti with Delta Title in Mandeville, LA.
This is excellent information!
Thank You
Marc