Hundreds of St. Tammany Parish residents are up in arms over property tax assessments they claim have doubled or worse in the past four years.

They’ve been lining up at the assessor’s office to appeal the assessments, which Parish President Kevin Davis said he believes are wrong.

Dave Schmidt, who owns a home in LaCombe that was flooded during Katrina, said the value of his home nearly doubled.

“If it had stated what it was prior to the storm (Katrina), I wouldn’t be that upset, however it’s still a home that I cannot sell,” he said.

State Representative Kevin Pearson said he thinks the assessments should have been handled differently, with a cap put on the increases.

“We have homes that may be looked at as, this is the market value of them, but they can’t sell them,” said Pearson. “Go to the realtors, ask them if they’re selling the homes.”

Assessor Patricia Core said the assessments are fair and that an increase in assessment won’t necessarily mean an increase in the tax paid, depending on whether or not the agencies that benefit from the taxes decide to roll back the millages.

“We’re not gouging anyone,” she said. “I think they are fair.”

Core said the school system has already agreed not to take additional tax money.

She also said she encourages people to appeal if they feel their assessment is not fair.

“We’re here to help them,” she said. “We’re not here to gouge them.”

Homeowners can appeal the assessments until October 16.