St. Charles treated unfairly when it comes to Homestead Exemptions

By Rock Gisclair

In nine years, the total number of homes in St. Charles Parish rose from 12,307 to 13,751; while the number of homes covered by the homestead exemption has significantly decreased.

As of 2006, only 32% of homes in St. Charles Parish are totally covered by the homestead exemption --- down 62% since 1997.

The following charts give a clear picture of what has happened to the homestead exemption in St. Charles Parish.

The most troubling chart is the Louisiana Tax Commission's (LTC) "thirty-second biennial report" whereby most parishes still have over 50% of their homes under the homestead exemption.

When the LTC was asked if there was a bias against St. Charles Parish homeowners, their response was "that's where all of the Saints football players live".

To quote Don Quixote, "surely the finest sport of all is where it's at the other people's expense".