Should first responders get a property tax break? Bossier voters voted for it, yet it's still not in effect
Plus — Body found in Red River identified. Deja vu for the Bossier City Council.
Beyond Bossier
Should first responders get a tax break? Bossier voters voted for it, yet it's still not in effect
Rising property taxes are on just about everyone's mind. That new reassessment notice mailed recently surely stung Bossier Parish property owners. But should some people get an exemption? Should first responders get a tax break?
Bossier Parish voters said yes, they should. In the Nov. 18, 2023 election, Act 179, providing a property tax exemption for qualified first responders, passed 58% (7,081 votes) Yes to 42% (5,109 votes) No.
Yet, the Bossier Parish Police Jury has not passed on that tax break to first responders.
Act 179 said, "A parish governing authority may approve an ad valorem tax exemption of up to $2,500 of the assessed valuation of property receiving the homestead exemption that is owned and occupied by a qualified first responder."
Note the wording: "may approve."
Apparently, the BPPJ decided it would not.
The Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police, in support of the measure last year, said: "In a time where departments are struggling to hire and retain law enforcement officers, this amendment would help retain and attract employees to keep our communities safe by allowing a tax break for law enforcement officers."
However, on April 3, 2024, the Policy and Procedures Committee of the Police Jury discussed Act 179. That meeting provides some context on why the BPPJ decided to punt on the tax break.
Bobby Edmiston, Bossier Parish Tax Assessor, told the committee that any tax exemption given to a certain group does not mean that the taxes are not collected but would instead be transferred to the remaining taxpayers to make up the difference.
Juror Philip Rodgers said at the meeting that if the police jury authorized the exemption, the parish would not take that money out of its budget but would collect the difference from the remaining taxpayers.
The difference would have to come from the remaining property owners in the parish who do not qualify for the first responder exemption.
Edmiston agreed: that is exactly what would happen; the difference would have to come from the remaining property owners in the parish who do not qualify for the exemption.
Parish Attorney Patrick Jackson said that many jurors had called him to discuss the potential exemption. He added that some jurors felt pressure to approve this exemption for the first responders because Bossier Parish voters approved the exemption in the election.
Mr. Jackson also noted that approving the exemption could lead to an argument that the police jury is increasing taxes on the rest of the parish's taxpaying citizens. Edmiston stated that the parish would absolutely increase taxes on every other taxpayer because the total amount received does not change regardless of the exemptions given.
At that point, juror Tom Salzer said that if the voters had been made aware of how property tax millages and exemptions operate, they would not have voted for this exemption. But he also noted that if the parish did not approve the exemption, the jury would be going against the will of the people.
A month later, the committee met again to discuss Act 179. Parish attorney Jackson said that the parish was not required to take action. Still, if there was pushback, the parish could hold a public hearing to explain the process of ad valorem taxes and tax millages, he added.
Months later, the issue is unresolved. And property taxes are on everybody's mind.
Should first responders get the tax break voters said they deserved? Should the Police Jury approve Act 179 in Bossier Parish?
And are residents ready to assume the additional tax burden that the exemption would put on non-first-responders?
Body found in Red River identified; BCPD investigating
The body of a man found in Red River last week has been identified. The Bossier City Police Department said it was 38-year-old Dominique Washington.
Washington was found by jet skiers in the Red River last Wednesday, August 21, at approximately 6:22 p.m. Bossier Police and Fire responded, and the body was delivered to the Bossier Coroner.
Investigators said foul play was not suspected; however, the incident is still under investigation.
Mayor puts term limits election resolution before the City Council — once again
Mayor Tommy Chandler is once again putting a term limits election resolution up for a vote by the council.
The resolution calls for term limits for locally elected officials in Bossier City to be put on the ballot for the December 7, 2024, election.
The same proposal has been voted down twice by the five opposing members of the council.
Nevertheless, the City Council will vote on the resolution at tomorrow's meeting.
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