Members of the New Orleans City Council today will question the Orleans Tax Assessor on the latest round of property tax assessments.
With property assessments up an average of 23 percent citywide, some members of the New Orleans City Council want to know what methods the assessor used. Orleans Assessor Erroll Williams says sales figures from the city's neighborhoods since the last assessment period tell them a lot
"Once we get the average sales over a three or four year period, we use that variable for cost-per-square-foot," Williams explained.
Council vice president Helena Moreno calls this "sales chasing" and says it is not the best practice for determining property value. But Williams says he cannot go in every house to see what it's condition is, and says residents have a right to meet with his office to discuss it.
"We generally try to see if we can settle the difference, if it's realistic," he said. "If it's not realistic, then we offer them to file a formal appeal to the Orleans Parish Board of Review, which is the city council."
Williams said if the council thinks that's too high, then let the mandatory roll-back in tax rates stand.
"The tax rate must be reduced by the amount of the percentage of the increase. My example would be, is that if assessments go up 23 percent then the rate must go down 23 percent."
Sales data over the four years since the last assessment are how the assessor gets an idea about how much property is worth in any given New Orleans neighborhood.
Williams says around 70 percent of property owners end up getting a lower assessment after meeting with his office.
Williams also says around 70 percent of the property owners who dispute his assessments with him end up with a reduced assessment.
The hearing starts at 10 a.m.
