Lafourche Parish tax bills are in the mail

Over 50,000 Lafourche Parish property owners are about to receive a post-Thanksgiving notice courtesy of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Property tax notices are expected to go in the mail by week’s end, according to Assessor Mike Martin.

The initial mailing will include the 30,645 people who owe the parish money. Property owners that do not have to pay taxes under the state’s homestead exemption ruling will be notified later, officials said.

In Lafourche Parish, about 20,000 homeowners are exempt.

Under Louisiana law, homes that are assessed at 10 percent of their value; the first $75,000 is exempt from parish property taxes if the owner resides in the home. Property owners who are exempt will still receive notices listing the property taxes applicable to the area, but show that no payment is due, according to Martin.

The LPSO is the parish’s official tax collection agency and is responsible for issuing the notices. LPSO spokesman Larry Weidel said in a news release that all the tax notices will be sent by the end of November.

Property taxes must be paid by Dec. 31, Deputy Tax Collector Annette Every said. “After that, there is a 1 percent per month late fee.”

The 2006 tax roll is expected to exceed $56.7 million, a significant increase over the $52.4 million collected the year before in Lafourche Parish.

Every said homeowners should check with their mortgage companies to confirm property taxes are paid with their monthly note.

If a parcel of land was sold during the year, Every said the owner of record at the outset of 2006 will receive the notice. “Sometimes the tax is prorated but it is the responsibility of the property owner to see that all taxes due on a property are paid,” she said.

Property taxes may be paid the LPSO’s Thibodaux or South Lafourche offices, which are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both offices will be open Dec. 29 until 5 p.m. to collect property taxes.

Taxes can also be paid at one of six local banks: Capital One, First American, Coastal, Whitney, South Lafourche, State Bank, Regions Bank and Community Bank.

The LPSO Web site is also set up to receive property tax payments.