(The Center Square) — Louisiana voters approved just three of eight proposed constitutional amendments Tuesday night, all aimed at reducing the burden on taxpayers.
Veterans with disabilities will now pay less for property taxes after voters approved Amendment 2 by nearly 73%. Those with a 100% service- connected disability rating or a 100% unemployability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and their spouses will no longer be required to pay any parish property taxes on their homestead if they live there.
Veterans with disability ratings between 70% and 99% and their spouses are also now eligible for a property tax exemption up to $120,000, while those with ratings of 50% to 69% and their spouses will get a property tax break up to $100,000 of the homestead’s value. The previous exemption was capped at $75,000, or $150,000 in certain parishes.
Nearly 75% of voters also supported Amendment 4 to allow local water districts, municipalities and other political subdivisions to reduce customer bills for water use if charges stem from damage outside of a customer’s control.
The change follows many other states that offer permissive flexibility to water utilities to help customers during floods, ice storms, and other natural disasters. Louisiana law previously prohibited the state, local governments and other political subdivisions from crediting residents or businesses for charges related to infrastructure problems that have plagued the state in the wake of a series of catastrophic storms in recent years.
Louisiana voters also approved Amendment 8 with a much closer vote of 55% to 45% to remove a constitutional requirement for certain disabled homeowners eligible for a tax break to annually certify their income.
The change applies to property tax rates that are frozen for perma week eight, even if they reach the 600 goal sooner.
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And Gilligan was ticketed by the Sheriff’s Department for letting his German Shepherd lurch at and mildly bite a juvenile person who was riding on a golf cart on Friday, Nov. 4. It was near Davidson’s property, but not on his property. The child’s skin was not broken, but investigators could see visible bite marks.
The citizens involved filed a complaint with the Sheriff’s Department, and Davidson was issued a ticket for his dog running at large. He can either pay a fine of about $200 or go to court.
A spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department said they have seen a dramatic increase in the number of animal complaints in the last couple of years. While Sheriff’s officials want the public to have and enjoy dogs, the pets must be kept up according to local pen and leash laws.
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell and Chief Deputy Brad Walker recently announced Deputy Liam Rivers Kidd and Deputy Kohlman McGee received their Level 1 Louisiana Basic P.O.S.T. Certifications.
Graduation exercises for the 52nd Basic Training Class of the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy took place Monday evening, Nov. 7 at Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator was the guest speaker.
Several law enforcement agencies from northwest Louisiana were represented when graduates took the oath of office, received their badges, and participated in a special ceremony where family and friends assisted them with pinning on their badges for the first time.
Class participants received 535 hours or more of Peace Officer training in areas including criminal law, patrol activities, traffic services, report writing, investigations, firearms, first aid, and criminal justice.
Lt. Jesse Branam, Chief Deputy Walker, and Lt. Jason Heard were in attendance to congratulate Deputies Rivers Kidd and McGee on their hard work and perseverance during the last 14 weeks.
Deputy Rivers Kidd received the Academic Award for having the highest grade point average in the class. His was an exceptional accomplishment.
These two Deputies will be assigned to the Patrol Division under Lt. Heard. (Special thanks to Det. D.W. Seegers for the information above.)
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