Property owners in St. Charles Parish can view their annual tax assessments at the assessor's office starting next week as part of the 15-day state-mandated tax roll inspection and correction process. The rolls will be open starting Aug. 29 and can be viewed at the assessor's office. Owners who dispute the amount of taxes owed have until Sept. 30...
Property owners in St. Charles Parish can view their annual tax assessments at the assessor's office starting next week as part of the 15-day state-mandated tax roll inspection and correction process.
The rolls will be open starting Aug. 29 and can be viewed at the assessor's office.
Owners who dispute the amount of taxes owed have until Sept. 30 to file an appeal with the Parish Council, which acts as the Board of Review.
Historically, there have not been many tax appeals filed. For instance there was just one filed last year, St. Charles Parish Assessor Tab Troxler told the Parish Council during its meeting Monday.
However, with the release of preliminary flood insurance rate maps and the passage of the federal Biggert-Waters Act, the specter of sky-high flood insurance premiums could spark a number of appeals, Troxler said.
"I've had people tell me that if (my assessment) is not zero, then I have a problem," Troxler said. "If you get a number of appeals, you may not be able to hear them in one council meeting."
The Biggert-Waters Act eliminates the national flood insurance subsidies and puts an end to the grandfather clause, which had allowed existing properties to maintain current flood insurance rates despite changes in building standards.
That means that property owners who built in compliance with prior codes could face insurance premiums that could rival their mortgage, parish officials have said.
Property owners on the west bank of the parish are projected to bear the brunt of the new law. Unlike the east bank, the west bank of St. Charles Parish sits outside of the federal levee flood protection system putting residents there at a greater risk for flooding.
Troxler, who lives on the west bank, said his own premium could increase from about $500 a year to $5,000 a year. Others residents have said they've gotten estimates as high as $23,000 a year for flood insurance.
"We're facing an unprecedented situation," Troxler said.
In assessing taxes owed, Troxler said he's attempted to take into consideration the potential impact, and acknowledged that home values in some areas have decreased because of concerns about the preliminary flood maps.
But, he said, there's still value in the properties.
Troxler said his office would hold extended hours for property owners to discuss their assessment during the 15-day review period. The office, located in the parish courthouse in Hahnville, will be opened from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The appeal's hearing will be Oct. 7 during the Parish Council meeting. Depending on the number of appeals filed the Parish Council may hold a special meeting to hear them.