Concerned homeowners flood tax assessors' offices in New Orleans

[link to www.wwltv.com]

Concerned homeowners have been flooding tax assessors’ offices since new assessments arrived in their mailboxes recently.

Assessed values that have doubled, tripled, quadrupled and in one case went up 800 percent have them worried that additional property tax could add to the already rising cost to live in the city following Katrina.

“Our assessment went up close to four times,” complained Wesley Galen. “We’re concerned about that because our house was flooded and we’re still repairing it.”

The concern about the increases comes as electric rates, water bills and homeowner’s insurance costs have risen dramatically for many.

"I'm ready to leave town already so, for my home, my business, everything is off,” said New Orleans businessman Phil Wagner, who said his bill was up 800 percent.

In a district where assessed property values averaged a 68 percent hike, Assessor Nancy Marshall patiently listened to each plea for help.

“Sometimes I have lowered the assessments,” she said. “There are times when I looked at the documentation they have brought in (and made changes).”

Third District Assessor Errol Williams, whose homeowners were receiving an average hike of 30 percent, was also taking a look at the values.

“If you’ve got information that supports the value and our value is wrong, we change it,” he said.

City council members have tried to reassure nervous homeowners by pledging to roll back the millages to keep the money the city is collecting at the same rate. However, those with dramatic increases will still feel the pinch, and the city council is only responsible for about 30 percent of the millages, according to Mayor Ray Nagin, meaning other organizations like the Orleans School board, would have to do the same to mitigate increases.