[StBernard] Katrina Taxes - Point of View by Ron Chapman

[Westley Annis]

FYI, the website listed in this email for the citizens' committee is
incorrect.  It should be www.stbpcrc.com (the 'b' is missing from the link
in the message).

-----Original Message-----
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Editors Note:  Ron wrote this back in December and I'm just getting the
chance to post it.

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Point of View

Two important messages for the residents of St. Bernard Parish.

First, it is important for every resident to learn about the special tax
programs being offered to Katrina affected areas by the IRS.  If you are in
St. Bernard Parish, it would be wise to go to the big white tent in the new
Wal-Mart parking lot and check out the wonderful ladies at the Christmas
Decorated table.

They are there to help you.  You will be given a short class and the
necessary forms to calculate your losses and apply them against your tax
payments for the past four years.   If you pay taxes, this can be a very
important advantage.  This gives you a chance to turn your tax payments into
a tax refund.   All you must do is carefully calculate your personal loses
and they provide a book that guides you through the process.

In addition, it is important to note that since this is a Presidentially
Declared Disaster, insurance payments will not be considered as "income" for
tax purposes.

At the adjoining table are representatives from the Louisiana State
Department of Revenue and Taxation.  Here you will be given a similar form
to fill out that allows you to recover the state portion of your sales taxes
on all items lost in the storm.  Consider how helpful it would be to receive
a check for nearly 4% of all of the tangible items you lost in this
disaster.

If you are a hard-working, tax-paying citizen, both of these programs will
allow you to recover some of the contributions you have made over the years.
For some it may not amount to much, but anything helps.  For others, the
sums could be significant.

The best part is that since it is assumed that the storm destroyed all
records, you will not have to try to reconstruct files or supply receipts to
apply.  After the total destruction visited upon our poor community, such a
requirement would have rendered this advantage meaningless.  Waving that
requirement makes it possible for many to take advantage of this program.

The second important point concerns the formation and the hard work of the
St. Bernard Parish Citizen's Recovery Committee.  The federal government has
learned the hard way that having "outside professionals" design community
recovery plans after a disaster is often fruitless.   If residents don't
have a say, they are often critical of the outcome.

With this in mind, FEMA has determined that citizens MUST be heard!  Please
monitor www.stpcrc.com.   This is the web address for the citizen's
committee.  Search the site, keep track of the changes that take place, and
feel free to contact the committee members to provide your insights.

Since this storm has displaced so many of us, this site will provide needed
two-way communication between the committee members and the community.

Anyone who has traveled around the parish knows the total devastation
visited upon us by Katrina.  Rebuilding our community will take the
collective efforts of us all.  Please, take the time to let the committee
know your feelings.  How do you want the new St. Bernard to look?  What are
should the priorities be? What would bring you back? What will keep you
away?   The committee needs to know.   Contact it!