Also on Wednesday, the City Council voted to lower assessed property values for thousands of property owners appealing this summer’s controversial reassessments.
Category: Government & Politics
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Gubernatorial primary results: Edwards to face Rispone in November runoff
Gov. John Bel Edwards fell short of winning a second term outright. He will now face Republican businessman Eddie Rispone in the runoff. New Orleans property tax amendment, a priority for Mayor Cantrell, fails by a wide margin. Cynthia Lee Sheng to be the first woman president of Jefferson Parish. See Saturday’s results on our maps.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Assessor defends costly policy on business taxes for weeks; later, his staff says the policy doesn’t exist
The policy Williams described likely would have cost the city and other Orleans Parish agencies millions of dollars.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Top Cantrell deputy warns of dire consequences without increased property tax revenue, but council member calls it a ‘scare tactic’
Montaño says city could face $25 million budget hole without roll forward.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Convention center board rejects contract for fence made by prison labor, but it might go forward anyway
The contract was for an iron fence that’s already been built. The convention center’s general counsel said at this point, the board either has to buy it or “bear the consequences for breaching the contract.”
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Cantrell administration to make case for increasing property taxes on Thursday
Weighing options, city officials wrote in meeting notes that rolling forward is “good for budget” but “screws people over.”
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Council passes resolution calling for reviews, new policies on industrial tax exemptions, but assessor may not comply
Williams is currently conducting a review using his own process, one that he admits may not catch all invalid exemptions.
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RTA, Convention Center brace for potential legal battle over tens of millions in hotel taxes
New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp. may also face legal dispute with Convention Center.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Days after reports of federal corruption probe, two city employees placed on ’emergency suspension’
A spokesman for the Mayor’s office didn’t immediately name the two employees. And it’s not yet clear whether the suspensions were the result of the federal probe or an internal city investigation.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Following scrutiny of invalid tax exemptions for two Folgers properties worth $40M, Orleans property assessor promises ‘comprehensive review’ of property tax breaks
Williams’ office automatically treats all industrial tax exemptions as valid for 10 years, but the Folgers exemptions were not renewed after their first five-year terms. The apparent oversight raises questions about record-keeping at the office.