10/12 poll respondents seem to like Rep. Kevin Pearson’s new property tax plan. Fifty-four percent say they support the measure to tax all homeowners on the first $10,000 of the value of their property before a $75,000 homestead exemption kicks in. Another 38% say they are against such a measure. The remaining 6% remain undecided. Pearson plans to propose the measure during the upcoming session because he says Louisiana relies on a small percentage of taxpayers to fund services like police protection and education, since 50% of the state’s property owners are completely exempt from property taxes. He blames the homestead exemption for leaving local governments strapped for cash. “I have no illusions that this will be an easy bill to sell,” Pearson says. “But those who are most likely to oppose it are those in communities with a high percentage of completely exempt landowners.” Because the measure would require a statewide vote to amend the state Constitution, a two-thirds majority of both chambers will be required to pass it. Pearson plans a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. April 6 in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium to discuss the measure. The 10/12 poll is not a scientific survey. It reflects the responses of the people who choose to participate.
This week’s question: Are you losing sleep over the economy?
