There are several reasons that some Calcasieu residents have seen hikes in property taxes this year, Assessor Wendy Curphy
Aguillard said, addressing the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Thursday night.
Police jurors voiced concerns that they have heard from their constituents, some of whom have seen property tax increases
of more than 100 percent.
Aguillard, who reminded that her office
only sets property values, said previous under-assessments, as well as
updated technology
and updated data have resulted in the increases.
“I know people want to blame somebody, I
understand that, it’s human nature, but ultimately, we’re just working
toward correcting
our tax rolls and making them accurate and uniform,” said
Aguillard, who was elected in October.
Police Juror Nic Hunter said he would be “blunt” in stating his beliefs of why the hikes occurred.
“I think what we’re experiencing is the
fallout of an office that has been far too political for far too long,”
Hunter said.
“You (Aguillard) entering into this position, I remember in one of
your campaign commercials, you said, ‘If you want to run
for politics, run for something else’ and that really registered
with me. I do not think the parish should be blaming you
for a lot of what’s going on right now.”
Carlyss, the neighborhood around St. Patrick’s Hospital and some neighborhoods in Sulphur, Moss Bluff and south Lake Charles
have seen some of the larger increases, Aguillard said.
The state is in an assessment year, which happens every four years.
The increases in property taxes did not result in a “windfall” for the parish, because the police jury rolled back millage
rates, police jury members and officials said.
“Although I know that people are somewhat frustrated, but everything that is being done is being done by law, and everything
that (the police jury) is doing with the rollback, you’ve done by law and I think the important part is to explain that to
citizens,” Aguillard said.
“We’re working toward a more accurate tax roll and the more accurate our tax roll is, the less people will see these kinds
of issues,” Aguillard said.
Aguillard also addressed questions about whether residents had enough time to adjust to the increases.
Postcards showing assessed property
values are sent out at the end of June, and property taxes are sent out
by Nov. 15, Aguillard
said.
The postcards state changes in property values but not approximate property taxes.
Aguillard said that it is a
“possibility” to include more information on the postcards, although she
expressed concerns about
including approximate taxes. She said that postcards are sent
rather than sealed envelopes as a cost-saving measure. She said
it costs around $25,000 to send out the 65,000 postcards.
“It is a budgetary issue, but of course we want the public to be aware,” Aguillard said.
Those with questions about their property values “can come to our office at any point in time during the year,” Aguillard
said.