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Past president warns parish leaders the governor's inventory tax plan threatens local revenue
Summary
Past President Bellard told the committee that the governor’s plan to eliminate the state portion of the inventory tax would shift costs to parishes and could create a multi‑million dollar shortfall; he also raised a proposed local ordinance to require payment of governmental liens before property redemption.
Past President Bellard presented parish revenue estimates and warned that a state plan to eliminate the inventory tax credit would reduce parish revenues if local officials adopt the option to drop the tax.
Bellard said the packet before the committee shows what the parish would lose and cited a figure in the material: "That's 18,100,000 to change," and later described mandated parish expenses of roughly $4.6 million annually. He said parishes at a recent meeting opposed taking the option and that local leaders are considering saying no to the change.
Bellard also discussed problems collecting liens on adjudicated properties: he said property buyers were redeeming adjudicated parcels without paying governmental liens and proposed drafting a local ordinance requiring a lien certificate or release from the parish before redemption.
Why it matters: Bellard framed the inventory tax matter as a structural county finance issue that could force significant cuts to parish services and require local decisions about whether to keep or eliminate the local portion of the tax. The lien proposal would change the redemption process for adjudicated property if the council adopts an ordinance.
What’s next: Bellard said he will have an ordinance drafted and bring it back to the council for consideration; committee members discussed forming a budget committee to examine cuts and impacts.
