Super Dave
02-13-2006, 11:17 AM
" A plan to shake up a part of New Orleans government, that many consider corrupt, got shot down Friday by state lawmakers.
Some are crying foul, saying some members shouldn't have been allowed to vote.
Cathy Smith feels she can't get a fair read on her home's worth because she says it's not about what you own, but who you know in New Orleans.
She hoped that would have changed with a new bill suggesting merging the city's seven tax assessors into one.
Supporters said it would save thousands of dollars and clean up a system many say is laced with cronyism. That creates wildly different property values for near identical homes.
The president of the Gulf south's largest real estate company called the system unfair.
“How in the effect can you guys have seven assessors when Chicago has one?” President of Latter & Blum Realtors Arthur Sterbcow said.
It’s logic some New Orleans homeowners agree with.
“I'm dismayed there's different valuations by different assessors in different parts of town,” homeowner C. E. Long said.
“Everybody should be paying their proper taxes,” homeowner Anne McQueen said.
But in a House committee meeting Friday afternoon, New Orleans lawmakers strongly opposed.
After hours of debate, the committee essentially killed the proposal. That raised some eyebrows since two of the members have personal stakes.
Lawmaker Alex Heaton's brother is an assessor, as is the father of Representative Jeff Arnold.
They say it's a non-issue.
State ethics laws allow lawmakers to vote on issues affecting family members, as long as they declare the relatioship."
Some are crying foul, saying some members shouldn't have been allowed to vote.
Cathy Smith feels she can't get a fair read on her home's worth because she says it's not about what you own, but who you know in New Orleans.
She hoped that would have changed with a new bill suggesting merging the city's seven tax assessors into one.
Supporters said it would save thousands of dollars and clean up a system many say is laced with cronyism. That creates wildly different property values for near identical homes.
The president of the Gulf south's largest real estate company called the system unfair.
“How in the effect can you guys have seven assessors when Chicago has one?” President of Latter & Blum Realtors Arthur Sterbcow said.
It’s logic some New Orleans homeowners agree with.
“I'm dismayed there's different valuations by different assessors in different parts of town,” homeowner C. E. Long said.
“Everybody should be paying their proper taxes,” homeowner Anne McQueen said.
But in a House committee meeting Friday afternoon, New Orleans lawmakers strongly opposed.
After hours of debate, the committee essentially killed the proposal. That raised some eyebrows since two of the members have personal stakes.
Lawmaker Alex Heaton's brother is an assessor, as is the father of Representative Jeff Arnold.
They say it's a non-issue.
State ethics laws allow lawmakers to vote on issues affecting family members, as long as they declare the relatioship."