NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans City Council called for an audit of the Orleans Parish Assessor after a sharp increase in tax assessments were announced this summer.
The Louisiana Legislative auditor released its findings in December that said "sales chasing" may have been used.
Sales chasing bases the assessment solely on recent sales.
Orleans Tax Assessor, Erroll Williams, said his office uses more than sales price to calculate tax assessments.
“You can’t be too high, and you can’t be too low. You got to be somewhere in the ballpark and we’re in the ballpark," Williams said, “The ones that have been renovated are worth more than the ones that have not been renovated. That’s a fact.”
Around 4,000 homeowners may be paying more than $600 in extra taxes per year, the audit said.
That makes up less than two percent of properties in Orleans Parish, according to the Assessor's Office.
Williams said their assessment model 'addresses the impacts of gentrification' and results in long-term homeowners paying less than new homebuyers.
“The practice violates Louisiana Tax Commission regulations and results in disparate treatment of recent purchasers versus existing owners," the audit said.
Sales chasing is not illegal, Williams said.
“If it was Illegal then I would be in trouble," Williams said, "Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but at this point, if I've satisfied the requirements in the state constitution, I've fulfilled my mission."
Councilmember At-Large Helena Moreno said she will request that the Assessor's Office review the 'potentially sales chased properties.'
“The worry over being priced out of New Orleans is very real for many families, and if there are any mistakes in the quadrennial assessment, then homeowners should be made aware and issues corrected," Moreno said.
Homeowners can expect their tax bills in February once the Orleans School Board votes on whether or not to roll back its millages, Williams said.
The board is expected to vote on Jan. 18.
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