Property freeze date extended

By Katherine Miller

THE POST SIGNAL

CROWLEY – This past Thursday, June 26, it was reported that the deadline for this year’s property freeze for seniors was Monday, June 30. On Friday morning, Russell Benoit, Acadia Parish tax assessor, announced that the date has been extended to Tuesday, July 15, which will allow seniors more time to take advantage of this opportunity.

Benoit explained that the income level and all qualifications will remain the same, which are that persons age 65 and over, with an income of not more than $62,180 are eligible.

Typically, each person’s property is reassessed in every odd-numbered year, and personal property is assessed each year. During even years, only properties that have been renovated or reconstructed, are adjusted to a new and higher value. The total value of a property is based upon the market conditions as of January 1 of the preceding year. Once the estimate of market value has been determined, the assessor calculates a percentage of that value to arrive at assessed value. The percentage is based on classification and is determined by the type of property it is or how it is used. The breakdown of assessments is as follows: Under the real estate category, residential equals 19 percent, agricultural equals 12 percent, commercial and all other types of property equals 32 percent. Under personal property, cars, boats, and other equal 33.3 percent, farm equipment and livestock account for 12 percent, historic autos equal 5 percent, and grain equals one half of all property.

“The books for this year’s freeze assessments will close on Tuesday, July 15. Each year, of course, the re-appraisal value goes up,” said Benoit. Senior citizens are urged to take advantage of this beneficial property freeze. For further information, you may contact the tax assessor’s office at 788-8871, or visit their website at www.acadiaassessor.org.