Re: Orleans Parish School Board raises property taxes, citing these two reasons

[Thank Biden]

On 12 Feb 2022, Molly Bolt <mollyth...@gmail.com> posted some
news:327ac749-6a09-47af...@googlegroups.com:

> Joe Biden's COVID bullshit killed our money!!!!

New Orleans property owners will see their real esate taxes rise this year
because the Orleans Parish School Board voted Thursday to hike rates,
which officials said would help offset a reduction in Louisiana state aid
and the looming loss of pandemic-recovery money.

The millage increase will generate almost $30 million in additional tax
revenue for the all-charter school system compared with last year, system
officials said. Owners of homes valued at $250,000 will pay about $96 more
in property taxes, officials estimated.

“I do want to acknowledge the burden that this places, not just on
homeowners, but on renters as well,” School Board President Olin Parker
said during a public hearing on the tax rate. But he added, “I think
everybody in this room and most people in this city would agree that
stronger schools make a stronger community.”

The board’s decision was the final event in a process that began in 2023
with a citywide reappraisal sharply raising property values. The higher
values meant the school system would receive less state aid, which varies
according to how much tax revenue local systems can generate.

When reappraisals raise property values, Louisiana law requires local
taxing authorities to lower their tax rates so that property owners, as a
group, pay the same amount. However, taxing authorities may subsequently
increase, or “roll forward,” their rates to the previous level, and thus
collect more from owners.

City Council says no
In July, the City Council vowed not to raise its rates, citing the soaring
insurance costs and inflation already burdening many property owners. It
also urged other local taxing authorities, including the School Board, not
to hike their rates.

But School Board officials have argued that the school system could not
afford to pass up extra money. First, they cited the reduction in state
aid, which they said amounts to about $8 million this year, or $184 per
student. Second, federal pandemic aid must be spent by September, leaving
the school system without about $2,600 per student less than it had for
the past few years, officials said. Finally, they said schools face higher
insurance costs while the baseline state funding amount has remained flat
for many years.

During Thursday’s public hearing, several charter school leaders echoed
the School Board, arguing that a cut in state aid without a corresponding
increase in local revenue would jeopardize their schools.

'Invest in students'
Alaysha Washington, a junior at Walter L. Cohen High School, part of the
Collegiate Academy charter network, said that failing to raise the tax
rate “would mean larger class sizes and fewer resources” for schools such
as hers. She added that schools could use more money to provide more
mental health services, pay teaches more and offer more extracurricular
activities.

“I'm here today to ask you to invest in the students of New Orleans,” she
said.

But Leah LeBlanc, a program coordinator at the Greater New Orleans Housing
Alliance, which advocates for affordable housing, warned the board that
raising property taxes could also increase rents.

“This issue will inevitably affect homeowners and renters alike,” she
said, “as these housing costs will be transferred from landlords to
tenants through rent increases.”

New Orleans voters have previously been willing to accept higher taxes to
support public schools. Last year, almost 64% of voters approved the
continuation of a property tax that helps pay for school building repairs.
And in 2022, voters backed a tax to expand early childhood education.

Parker, whose term as board president ended Thursday, proposed not raising
a portion of the taxes that go toward building repairs because voters
approved the separate tax for school buildings in October. The board
rejected that proposal, instead voting unanimously to raise all property
taxes that it controls.

Property tax bills typically go out in December, but they were delayed
last month while the School Board determined whether to raise its
millages. Board officials said they were waiting for state aid estimates
from the Louisiana Education Department.

Because of the delay, tax payments will not be due until Feb. 29, a month
later than usual, city officials said in December.

https://www.nola.com/news/education/orleans-parish-school-board-raises-
property-taxes-citing-these-two-reasons/article_5799958a-b66b-11ee-b4d0-
f729ca42530d.html#tncms-source=featured-top