East Baton Rouge Assessor Brian Wilson is sending out notices of property reassessments the week of Aug. 13, but homeowners will also have the opportunity to go online and inspect their assessments at www.ebrpa.org, where the reassessments will be posted on a permanent basis.
It’s unclear how soon this year’s reassessments will be posted to the website. For immediate information on a reassessment, Wilson says homeowners can call his office at 389-3920.
Beginning Aug. 24, home and property owners can visit the assessor’s office through Sept. 7 to view reassessments on the books. Wilson says owners can appeal their assessment if they believe it is unfair or does not include property damage.
When appealing, residents go before the Metro Council, which serves as a mid-level appeals panel for challenges to tax assessments. Wilson has not made a preliminary estimate of how much the reassessment could net in tax revenue for municipalities.
It’s difficult to figure how taxes relate to certain properties, since there are about 30 taxing agencies in the parish and, in some cases, only 15 may apply to a specific property. Those governmental agencies also are considering adjusting their millages during public meetings over the next few months.
Owners can file for a homestead exemption for a primary residence, which excludes the first $75,000 in assessed property from taxes. Since 2001, property owners 65 and older—with an income that does not exceed $67,670—can file for frozen property assessments, excluding them from reassessments every four years. A homestead exemption of $150,000 is eligible for veterans with 100% service-connected disability, providing proof from the Veterans Affairs.
