[StBernard] Problems with the Louisiana Tax Commission

[Westley Annis]

Audit Reveals Problems With the Louisiana Tax Commission

from the latest edition of LaPolitics - July 2013

 

The effectiveness of the state Tax Commission has become a perennial issue
since Gov. Bobby Jindal took office in 2008 and appeared to crest over the
past week with a scathing audit that questions the practices and politics of
the five-member board.  

   The report, prepared by the Legislative Auditor, found that the
commission routinely approves changes to homeowners' property tax bills
based on proposals by parish tax assessors-of the 8,884 adjustments
presented in February and March, 99 percent were accepted. It further
suggested there's evidence that the commission isn't properly vetting the
recommendations. "While it might be an issue of resources, they just don't
have the kind of framework in place, or experience, to get the job done,"
said one former member of the commission, which is appointed fully by the
governor.  

   Lawmakers and special interest groups complain that the commission is
stacked with members who are more sympathetic to assessors than taxpayers
and business and industry. They contend it's an undoing of the balance that
was implemented under former Gov. Kathleen Blanco and is directly related to
the very early support Jindal received from the Louisiana Assessors'
Association when he ran for governor in 2007. 

   The association was ahead of the pack, backing the eventual governor
before most other groups. A friendly Tax Commission was among the spoils,
some contend. "You got the fox watching the henhouse. Maybe that's why all
of this happening," said Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton. "It's a very political
group. Do they need more manpower? I don't know. But this is a group that
has been loaded down with battles over the past few years." 

   Using studies that showed no value changes from one assessment period to
another and assessment values that far outstrip fair market values in
certain cases, the audit accuses the commission of not ensuring that parish
assessors are reappraising properties every four years as dictated by the
constitution. 

   In a written response, Tax Commission Chairman Pete Peters said the audit
was "performed with a lack of understanding of the appropriate legal and
factual background, or, even worse, with a predisposed intent to find fault
where none exists."