The American Press is recommending a “yes” vote on Constitutional Amendments No. 7 and No. 9 on the Nov. 4 election ballot.

Amendment 7 would double the homestead exemption for disabled veterans with a 100 percent unemployability rating.

Any resident who owns and occupies a home is eligible for a homestead exemption up to $7,500 of the assessed value. The amendment would bump that number up to $15,000 for qualifying veterans.

This isn’t really a new proposal. The doubled homestead exemption is already available to veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability rating.

The current amendment clarifies the language to make sure the exemption is available to all veterans it is meant for. In its current incarnation, the law fails to cover its full intent.

The homestead exemption is only available in parishes that have voted it in, of which Calcasieu Parish is one.

Amendment 9 would do away with the requirement that permanently disabled homeowners under age 65 must prove every year that they qualify for an assessment freeze on their property.

Disabled homeowners are eligible for an assessment freeze if they fall below an income limit — the limit changes from year to year because of inflation, but was $67,670 last year.

The law would bring the requirements for those under 65 in line with those 65 and older, meaning that those eligible would only have to show they qualify once. Once a freeze was in effect, the assessed value would only change if a property was sold or if construction raised the value more than 25 percent.

It’s unlikely that the income of the permanently disabled is going to change much, thus the need for an annual trip to the assessor’s office is unnecessary.

There may a slight chance of fraud, but that is trumped by the chance to make life a little easier for those suffering from disability.

That’s why the American Press is recommending a “yes” vote for Amendment No. 7 and No. 9.(MGNonline)