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Harahan withdraws millage ordinance after state certification issue; resident urges clearer public explanation
Summary
The City of Harahan withdrew a proposed millage ordinance after staff said a recent legal interpretation and Louisiana Legislative Auditor guidance require paired approvals at the same meeting. Resident Gail Ventola urged clearer public outreach about who benefits and how frozen assessments affect individual tax bills.
The Harahan City Council voted to withdraw a proposed ordinance tied to this year’s millage roll-forward after staff said a recent legal interpretation and Louisiana Legislative Auditor guidance require two linked approvals at the same meeting.
Resident Gail Ventola spoke during the public hearing seeking clarity on how the roll-forward would affect households. Ventola, who said she has lived in Harahan for 54 years, cited assessor data showing about 4,023 assessed properties and roughly 1,084 with frozen assessments. She said those frozen accounts mean the distribution of any additional tax dollars is uneven and that a 4% citywide revenue increase does not translate to a 4% increase on every taxpayer’s bill.
Mayor Baudier and staff told the council the assessor’s office and auditors later flagged a procedural issue after last month’s meeting. City staff explained that, because of a recent court decision, the two required actions must be approved at the same meeting for certification; failing to do so would require re-advertising and delay the parish tax roll. With that constraint, council members moved to withdraw the ordinance; the motion passed on voice vote with a recorded tally of 4–0 in favor of withdrawal.
Council members and staff said the resolution previously approved remains in force for this year and that the full process — two resolutions and any public hearings — will be restarted next year with earlier scheduling and more public outreach. Staff agreed to post clear explanatory material on the city website so residents can understand the difference between assessed value, frozen assessments and millage rates.
The council did not change millage rates at the meeting; staff emphasized the withdrawal was procedural and not an indication of substance. City officials said they will re-open the required public process and coordinate with the assessor and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor to ensure the parish tax roll can be certified on schedule.
