Public Meetings Scheduled Today to Discuss Millage Rates
Today in two parishes, public meetings to discuss millage rates.
Both in Iberia and Vermilion, residents are invited to voice their opinion on the increasing of millage rates without voter approval.
Iberia Parish, the City of New Iberia and the City of Abbeville are debating the move. It's known as "rolling forward" and only happens when there has been an increase in property values.
Every four years assessors re-evaluate property values in Iberia Parish."Any taxing district may choose to re-adjust their millage upward," said Iberia Parish Assessor Rickey Huval.
The millage move depends on the taxing district and what they approve.
"The first part of the public hearing is for the council to adopt to the adjusted millages which are lower than what we are paying now and the second resolution is to roll forward with the millages to the millages we are currently changing," said New Iberia Mayor Hilda Curry.
Curry says the phrase "rolling forward" can be deceiving and the city has not rolled forward the last eight years.
"The only instance that someone's property tax will increase is if their property is assessed at a higher value. If it is assessed at the same value as it was four years ago, there will be no increased realized."
The estimated tax revenues to be collected from next year's millage increase is more than five million dollars and city officials are looking towards the future.
"It is necessary for us to continue to provide the services we are providing and to be able to keep up with the increase in cost of retirement, insurance, everything just continues to increase and every bit we can bring in helps," said Curry.
Sheriff Ackal has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sheriff's Office located at 300 Iberia Street, Suite 120 in New Iberia.
The City of New Iberia also holding public hearings on their millage renewal at 5:30 in the council chambers at City Hall.
The city of Abbeville will hold a public hearing tomorrow at at 5:30 pm in the Council Meeting Room at City Hall located at 101 North State Street.
Chris Welty
cwelty@katctv.com
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