N.O. Realtor launches campaign to raise homestead exemption

During the span of two weeks, the number of individuals signing an online petition to raise Louisiana’s homestead exemption has doubled to more than 44,600 names. Joshua Kahler, a New Orleans Realtor, launched PetitionOnline because he says the benefits of the homestead exemption and the need to increase it for inflation have never been more important. “Homeowner taxes continue to increase as property values increase while the amount of the exemption remains fixed at 1982 property value levels,” he says. “If adjusted for inflation alone the homestead exemption today would be over $160,000.” That’s the amount Kahler wants to increase the exemption to. Presently, Louisiana residents are not taxed on the first $75,000 of a home’s value. As for who in Baton Rouge is paying attention, state Sen. John Alario, a Westwego Democrat, plans on filing legislation for the spring regular session to increase the homestead exemption to $150,000 or $160,000. While Alario has tried to do this in the past, it’s never happened in connection with a public push like the one being led by Kahler, who wants to have 100,000 signatures online by the time the session begins April 27.—Jeremy Alford