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Monsanto agent urges big valuation cut; assessor says evidence falls short, council certifies roll
Summary
At the Oct. 6 St. Charles Parish meeting, a Monsanto agent argued the Luling glyphosate plant merits economic obsolescence due to market pressures and litigation, but Assessor Troxler said the taxpayer bears the burden of proof and the assessor's valuation will be certified; the council accepted the assessor's 2025 assessment roll.
Richard Griffin, identifying himself as an agent for Monsanto, told the St. Charles Parish Council on Oct. 6 that the company’s Luling glyphosate plant has been hit by international competition and litigation and urged the council to consider economic obsolescence in the plant’s property valuation. “Chinese competition has depressed the market prices for what we sell,” Griffin said, and he noted widespread glyphosate litigation and reduced retail use in products such as Roundup.
Assessor Sasha Troxler responded that state rules guide valuations and that the taxpayer bears the burden of producing sufficient evidence to justify economic obsolescence. Troxler cited Louisiana Tax Commission rules (Chapter 25) and said his office considered cost, market and income approaches but found the evidence provided by the taxpayer — and by the KPMG appraisal the company submitted — insufficiently specific to the Luling facility. “The taxpayer is required to submit the total acquisition cost of equipment to the assessor annually,” Troxler said, and added that he could not defend the magnitude of the reduction the company requested before a taxing authority.
Council members pressed both sides on the data. Councilwoman O'Daniels told Troxler she felt constrained without the taxpayer’s appraisal information; Councilman Fisher asked whether an additional expert appraisal would provide the missing detail. Monsanto’s representative said KPMG prepared an appraisal but relied on market comparables because plant-specific financials were not available.
After the hearing, the council voted to accept and certify the assessor’s 2025 assessment roll as submitted to the Louisiana Tax Commission (File No. 2025-0303); the certification motion (moved by councilwoman De Bruyere, seconded by councilman Fisher) passed unanimously.
What remains unresolved is the taxpayer’s appeal before the Board of Review and any subsequent appeal to the Louisiana Tax Commission; the council’s certification formalizes the assessor’s submission for the year but does not foreclose further appeals in the administrative process.
Actions and authorities: The council accepted and certified the 2025 assessment roll submitted by the assessor to the Louisiana Tax Commission (File No. 2025-0303). The discussion repeatedly referenced Louisiana Tax Commission rules and Chapter 25's guidance on valuation approaches. No change to the assessor’s valuation was made at the meeting.
Next steps: Any taxpayer appeal may proceed through the Board of Review and the Louisiana Tax Commission; the council’s certification sends the assessor’s roll onward per state procedures.
