LAFOURCHE PARRISH ASSESSOR'S OFFICE Annual Report 2024 by Digital Publisher

LAFOURCHE PARISH

ASSESSOR’S OFFICE

Wendy L. Thibodeaux, CLA

Lafourche Parish Assessor

Citizens of Lafourche Parish,

As we reflect on 2024, I am proud to share this annual report with you, providing a clear and transparent look at the financial status of our parish. It has been a year of progress and continued commitment to ensuring fair and accurate property assessments for all taxpayers.

This year also marked a reassessment period, a process required by Louisiana law every four years. Reassessments help maintain fairness in property values. My team has worked diligently to complete this process with accuracy and efficiency, always keeping the best interests of our community in mind.

We understand that property assessments and values can sometimes raise questions, and we want you to know that we are here to help. Whether you need clarification, assistance, or simply want to better understand the process, our office is always available to serve you.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. It is an honor to serve as your Assessor, and I look forward to another year of working together for the benefit of Lafourche Parish.

All my love 4 Lafourche, Wendy L. Thibodeaux, CLA

2024: TAX ROLL OVERVIEW

CHANGES IN ASSESSED VALUE

(Homestead Exemption excluded)

JEFFERSON: $4,663,243,819

ST. CHARLES: $2,539,823,231

TERREBONNE: $1,098,779,452

ST. JOHN: $965,929,818

LAFOURCHE: $845,330,427

ST. JAMES: $761,373,417

ST. MARY: $639,628,287

ASSUMPTION: $250,691,816

* Hurricane Ida Reductions Applied

Wendy L. Thibodeaux, CLA Lafourche Parish Assessor

The state of Louisiana allows eligible taxpayers to apply for special assessment levels for their homesteads. If a homeowner remains eligible, the special assessment will “freeze” the taxpayer’s primary residence at its current assessed value.

Below is an overview of available special assessment levels and the requirements for each. Those who are qualified to apply may do so by bringing the required documents to the Assessor’s office during regular business hours.

At least one owner of the home must be 65 or older, and owner must reside in home.

Adjusted Gross Income, combined for all owners, cannot exceed $100,000.00 per 2024.

Required Documents: Driver’s License or Birth Certificate, Federal Tax Return

At least one owner of the home must have a service-connected disability with a 100% disability rating, and owner must reside in home.

Adjusted Gross Income, combined for all owners, cannot exceed $100,000.00 per 2024.

Required Documents: Disability Awards Letter, Driver’s License or Birth Certificate, Federal Tax Return

At least one owner of the home must be a veteran with a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating, or the surviving spouse of a veteran with a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating, and owner must reside in home.

Required Documents: Disability Awards Letter, Driver’s License or Birth Certificate

SPECIAL ASSESSMENT LEVELS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

Owner of the home must be a member of the Armed Forces who were Missing in Action (MIA) or were a Prisoner of War (POW) for a period exceeding 90 days.

Required Documents: Please call our office for requirements.

MILITARY & EMERGENCY RESPONDER UNMARRIED SURVIVING SPOUSE EXEMPTION

The surviving spouse, who remains unmarried, of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, Louisiana National Guard, or while performing their duties as a state police officer, or a law enforcement or fire protection officer is entitled to an exemption from ad valorem tax for the total assessed value of their homestead.

Required Documents: Please call our office for requirements.

Owner of the home must reside in the home and be a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran, identified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs with a service-connected disability rating as stated below shall be eligible for an increase in homestead exemption.

The homestead exemption would increase from $75,000 as follows:

• Service-connected disability rating of 50% - 70% shall be eligible for an additional exemption in the amount of $25,000

• Service-connected disability rating of 70% - 99% shall be eligible for an additional exemption in the amount of $45,000

• Service-connected disability rating of 100% shall be eligible for an additional exemption in the FULL AMOUNT of fair market value of the home

Required Documents: Disability Awards Letter, Driver’s License or Birth Certificate

In order to qualify for homestead exemption, one must own and occupy the house as his/her primary residence. Regardless of how many houses are owned, no one is entitled to more than one homestead exemption. With a maximum of $7,500 of assessed value, except in those parishes whereby voters approved an additional exemption of the assessed valuation on property receiving the homestead, which is owned and occupied by a veteran with a service connected disability rating of 50% - 100% by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation. You must go into the Assessor’s office and apply for homestead exemption as soon as you purchase and occupy your home. You are required, by law, to notify the Assessor’s office if you change residence NUMBER

HOW ARE MY PROPERTY TAXES DETERMINED?

Your property taxes are not set by the Assessor, property taxes are set by taxing districts and you the voter.

The Assessor determines the fair market value of your property. Fair market value is determined by using local sales data, cost, and market trends. The Assessor then calculates the “assessed value” of your property, which is a percentage of the fair market value. The percentage of the market value used in this calculation is provided for by law. Take away — The Assessor does not impose your tax liability, the Assessor determines the Fair Market Value of your property which is the first step in the formula that determines your property taxes.

Residents vote for millages to fund taxing district’s ability to provide governmental services. The millage rates that VOTERS approved are then applied to the assessed value to determine your property taxes. The taxing body is NOT required to levy the maximum millage every year and can levy any rate from zero to the maximum voter approved rate. Once a taxing body adopts a millage rate for the year, the Legislative Auditor approves the millage rate not the Assessor. Take away — the assessed value is multiplied by the millage rates approved by the voters and taxing districts to determine your property taxes.

WHERE ARE MY EXEMPTIONS?

A property exemption is a reduction or elimination of property taxes on a specific property for parish taxes only. This does not include taxes due to municipalities or special assessment fees. Property exemptions are approved by voters and eligibility is determined by law, not the Assessor. Exemptions are deducted from the total assessed value.

(See more on page 3 for detailed list of exemptions and their requirements)

WHY DO MY TAXES CHANGE WHEN THE ASSESSOR HAS NOT CHANGED MY VALUE?

Your total tax due may change year to year as millage rates increase or decrease. Taxing districts have the authority to increase or decrease the voter approved millage rate each year. The taxing districts levy these millages annually. A decrease in millage rates may decrease the amount of taxes due — an increase in millage rates result in an increase of total taxes due.

AD VALOREM ASSESSED VALUES

The largest value increase has been in Real Estate over the past four years with continuous year-over-year growth. The largest decreases in value have been in watercraft and oil & gas respective to the decline of the oil economy.

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK

The Lafourche Parish Assessor has the responsibility of discovery, listing, and valuation of all property within the parish boundaries. All taxable property valued by the Assessor is then taxed ad valorem, or “according to value” by each of the various taxing districts listed. Each taxing district levies these rates during public meetings held every year.

Tax rates are expressed as a millage, based on the Latin word “thousandth,” each millage listed

of taxable assessed value.

MARKET TRENDS

To ensure fair property assessments, the Assessor’s office continuously maintains a record of existing and new residential and commercial structures throughout Lafourche Parish.

4,128

STAFF

First Row Left to Right: Tori Chiasson, *Kaitlynn Edwards, *Wendy Thibodeaux, *Lauren Bourgeois, Shirley Verdin, Rachel Terrebonne,*Britni Bouzigard

Second Row Left to Right: Randi Robert, *Jessica Swift, Yvette Bruce, *Rosalind Benoit, Riechelle Roy, Stacey Weimer, *Ryan Friedlander, Joni Callais

ASSESSOR WENDY THIBODEAUX

Wendy is a six (6) time IAAO certified Assessor with over six hundred (600) hours of assessment education. Wendy is also the only Assessor in the state to earn a certification in vessel valuation, by Lloyd’s Maritime Academy.

*These employees have met the requirements to receive accreditation from the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) as Certified Louisiana Deputy Assessors