2026-10-15 - Orleans Parish Board of Review

01:22All right, thank you very much. We are

01:24going to get started on the board of

01:28review for property tax appeals. I

01:30believe we have HGI here, correct? All

01:33right, so you guys want to go over your

01:35presentation

01:37and I will recognize Miss

01:39McCarron at the appropriate time.

01:50All right.

01:50>> Well, good morning. My name is Lou

01:52Rascoever and I'm the CEO of Hammerman &

01:54Gainer, HGI. We're a 98-year-old,

01:57locally owned, locally operated,

01:58minority-owned company.

02:00Recognizing that your time is very, very

02:02valuable, I'm going to be as very brief

02:04as possible.

02:05Quickly want to introduce this is Dylan

02:06Trueax, one of our vice presidents. This

02:09is Andrew Beekler,

02:10an attorney with experience in real

02:12estate. And Mr. Arthur Laughlin, a

02:14public official with experience in real

02:15estate.

02:17As you probably know, we've been

02:19performing this third-party property tax

02:22assessment appeals services for the past

02:2414 years. And I'm here today just to

02:26briefly

02:28um

02:29um

02:30I'll give you our findings.

02:34Our firm is responsible for one of only

02:36only one of the many steps in this

02:38multi-stage process, all of which is

02:40designed to protect both the property

02:42owners and the city.

02:44The process starts with the office of

02:45the assessor establishing the original

02:47assessments and providing the appeals

02:49records. The property owners then have a

02:5130-day window called the open rolls

02:54process

02:55to which they can come. That's usually

02:57held in a public venue at Lakeview

02:59Christian Center on Fleur de Lis Drive.

03:01Once the open rolls is completed, that's

03:03when Hammerman and Gainer steps in to

03:06have the open appeals process. We also

03:09have that a public venue. It's usually

03:10at Delgado Community College.

03:13These appraisals are reviewed along with

03:16the office of the assessor's

03:17information. We

03:19We review the appraisals, the

03:21comparables, the photographs, and any

03:22other documentation provided by the

03:24property owner. And then after all that,

03:27we simply make a recommendation

03:29to the Board of Review of the

03:31the City Council acting as the Board of

03:33Review. Again, we don't make a final

03:35determination.

03:37We don't make a final decision.

03:39We don't set the tax

03:41rates. We simply make a recommendation.

03:48This particular year, after the initial

03:50assessments were determined and the

03:5230-day open rolls process was completed,

03:55we looked at 531 files. This compares

04:01very much to the prior years of 716

04:042026,

04:05618 2023, and of course that aberration

04:09on that chart

04:10is the annual I mean the every 4-year

04:13quadrennial period when there was 6,227.

04:18Of the 531 appeals managed by Hammerman

04:21& Gainer,

04:22our hearing officers

04:25agreed with the Assessor's Office on 238

04:28of those cases. That's the second column

04:30there, or about 44.5%

04:34of the total.

04:36We also recommended no change

04:37[clears throat] in the Assessor's Office

04:39initial assessment of 15 per personal uh

04:44personal claims, property claims. Next.

04:48The valuation of the the

04:51HDO HGI source files was 87.5 million.

04:55Our recommended valuation was 70.5

04:58million, and the differential is about

05:0017 million on valuation to valuation.

05:05However,

05:06if you look at the situation from where

05:09the certified assessments were last

05:11year,

05:12the percentage difference comes down to

05:1411.8%, which is very consistent with

05:18what we've seen over the 14 years that

05:19we've been of service to the city uh

05:22performing this role.

05:26Of the Of the ones that I'm we're all

05:28aware there was a a group of uh

05:30properties that the Assessor had some

05:33issue with, um and we welcome an

05:35opportunity to meet with the Assessor.

05:37Uh the first we heard about the problem,

05:39even though there was

05:4012 members of the Assessor's Office

05:42there at Delgado with us the entire 2

05:44weeks, and we were interacting with

05:45them,

05:46but we understand there was 41

05:48properties

05:49uh that were questioned

05:51um

05:53and the different breakdowns of those

05:54properties. We, of course, would welcome

05:56the opportunity to sit down with the

05:58assessor, and indeed we've reached out

06:00to Assessor Williams, and he has agreed

06:02to meet with us.

06:05Going through the whole quality control

06:08process, our hearing officers hear the

06:10appellant as well as the assessor's

06:12representative, who's generally present

06:15at most of these hearings. Again, the

06:17assessor's uh staff is in the next room,

06:19and they're invited over to listen in.

06:22They're open to participate in each and

06:24every one of the hearings.

06:25Um we then document our findings. We

06:28recommend the assessed values for the

06:29program review.

06:31The program staff checks off the

06:32calculation, identifies any missing

06:34evidence,

06:36and then the board uh considers these

06:38recommendations. Last but not least,

06:41even if there's an issue beyond that,

06:43remember there's yet another appeals

06:45process to the Louisiana Tax Commission.

06:48Um

06:50our recommendation today is that, you

06:53know, we consider

06:55approval of the whole group of 531,

06:59minus perhaps the 41 that there was some

07:01questions on, and we'd be happy to sit

07:03down and meet with the assessor. Again,

07:04we just saw this letter the same time

07:06you did.

07:07Um

07:08It was turned over to us by the

07:09Times-Picayune, but we'd be happy to sit

07:12down and meet with the assessor and

07:13discuss these particular properties. One

07:15of which, for instance, one that

07:16represented about 25% of the

07:18differential

07:20was simply one that was a procedural

07:22error.

07:23This particular property owner was not

07:24sent notice, was not given uh

07:27notification that their assessment had

07:29been changed within 30 days of the open

07:31rolls period. So, the hearing officer on

07:34that particular one

07:36really didn't have a judgment call to

07:37make. It wasn't uh so much of an

07:39analysis as the the protocols weren't um

07:42met, and so we had to revert back to the

07:45prior assessment.

07:47That's basically our overview of our

07:49presentation, uh but Mr. Beekler, Mr.

07:51Laughlin, Mr. Trueax, and myself are

07:53here to answer any questions.

07:55>> Well, we have uh one comment card from

07:58Tiffany Pounds.

08:03>> [cough and clears throat]

08:11>> Okay.

08:13Good morning, Council.

08:14Um my name is Tiffany Pounds, and I'm

08:18representing Housing NOLA. Uh so,

08:20Housing NOLA calls for immediate action

08:23to address inequitable property tax

08:24assessments affecting seniors and home

08:27homeowners with disabilities across New

08:29Orleans.

08:30These residents deserve fair assessments

08:32and the protections guaranteed to them

08:34under Louisiana law. We urge the City

08:37Council to take four critical actions.

08:40First, to correct the assessments of

08:42over 2,700 seniors and homeowners with

08:45disabilities who were overcharged,

08:47ensuring they receive appropriate relief

08:49for the 2027 tax year.

08:51Second, direct the Assessor's Office to

08:54apply the lower of the frozen assessment

08:56or current assessed value, consistent

08:59with practices across Louisiana. The

09:01special assessment freeze should serve

09:03as a ceiling, not a floor.

09:06Third, establish a special extended

09:09appeals process so affected homeowners

09:11are not penalized for missing deadlines

09:14they were never adequately informed

09:16about.

09:17And finally, to pursue a permanent

09:19legislative solution that ensures these

09:21protections are applied fairly and

09:24consistently moving forward.

09:26For seniors and residents with

09:27disabilities living on fixed incomes,

09:30every dollar matters. These protections

09:33were established to help people remain

09:35in their homes, not to create additional

09:37financial burdens.

09:39Housing NOLA urges immediate action to

09:42correct these inequities and ensure that

09:45no homeowner pays more than the law

09:47requires. Thank you so much.

09:49>> Ms. Pounds, can you stay there for a

09:50second? Ms. Beckner, can you please

09:51explain to Ms. Pounds why many of the

09:54things they're saying are contrary to

09:55law and the charter?

09:57>> Uh certainly. So, this process uh is

09:59established by state law. That's LARS 47

10:041992.

10:06It establishes the process for appeals

10:08of assessments to the Board of Review

10:09and the City Council has no authority to

10:11amend state law processes.

10:14Um the law provides that the Board of

10:15Review shall conduct public hearings for

10:17all persons or their representatives

10:19desiring to be heard on the assessments.

10:22Requests for these hearings must be made

10:24to the Board of Review no later than

10:25three business days after the last date

10:27upon which the lists are exposed by the

10:29assessor. So, in this case, that

10:31deadline expired on August 20th, 2026.

10:35Um the Council has no authority to

10:37submit a request for hearing at this

10:38point because number one, the deadline

10:40is passed, but number two, they are

10:41neither the taxpayer nor their bona fide

10:43representative.

10:45Um

10:46in this case, the law specifically

10:47provides that nothing contained in the

10:49law shall be construed to authorize a

10:51tax recipient body to challenge the

10:53assessment of all property within its

10:55taxing jurisdiction in a single

10:56complaint.

10:58>> Thank you. To be more specific, and this

11:00is I want to express how frustrating

11:02this process has because the reality is

11:05had Housing NOLA used its platform to

11:07actually tell those individuals when the

11:10rolls open and appeal them, we would

11:12have authority to help them. What you're

11:14requesting us to do effectively as an

11:17appeals court is to file a lawsuit for

11:19homeowners. We can't do that. It is

11:21literally prohibited by the charter and

11:23by law.

11:24So,

11:25what would have been helpful because

11:28both Housing NOLA and other groups have

11:29been complaining and telling people to

11:31call the council since August is had you

11:34simply educated homeowners under the law

11:37to go file a an appeal regarding an

11:40incorrect assessment which would have

11:42included HGI if their age at for age

11:45freeze had not been in place, correct?

11:47>> Mhm.

11:47>> So had those individuals filed that

11:49appeal, we could grant relief.

11:52And so what's frustrating is that rather

11:55than do that, you're asking the council

11:57to do something that had you done a

11:59cursory examination of the law and the

12:01charter, you know we can't do. We

12:04literally cannot do the things you're

12:06asking us to do. It is prohibited by law

12:08and by the charter.

12:10So what I would ask you to do, which

12:12would be helpful to those homeowners, is

12:14to make sure that when the rolls open,

12:16that they file those appeals because at

12:18that time, we can grant relief.

12:21Regularly, the council grants almost all

12:24the appeals that come before us for

12:26people challenging their assessments.

12:28That is the process.

12:30So simply put, not to beat a horse which

12:33is already dead,

12:35if you want to help, research the law

12:37and use the law.

12:39Don't just ask for demands that

12:41functionally, legally, we cannot grant.

12:46>> Okay.

12:47So question. So for since this process

12:50is closed, for next year, since we do

12:52know that there are over 2700

12:55uh taxpayers that have been overcharged,

12:57for next year when the process comes

12:59around, if they do appeal, will they be

13:00refunded the money that they were

13:01overcharged?

13:03>> grant money retroactively. We cannot

13:05grant money for the past year, but we

13:07can correct it going forward. That's the

13:08power we have. We can't retroactively

13:10give people money that may or may not be

13:13done if it has the timeline for an

13:15appeal has passed.

13:16>> So even though the assessor actually

13:18made mention in Verity back in May that

13:20he would give the money back to the

13:22residents, we still wouldn't be able to.

13:24>> that's a question for the assessor

13:25because our role is limited as HGI said

13:28and as you heard from the law,

13:30when an appeal is made to us, we can

13:32act. If no appeal is made, that is the

13:34limitation of our authority. Uh I'm not

13:37aware of the assessor having any ability

13:38to do so, but if back in May he made

13:42that argument, I would have hoped that

13:44organizations like yours would have

13:46notified homeowners to go file appeals.

13:49Because had they filed an appeal based

13:51on age or anything else, HGI, which is

13:54our our part party party that does the

13:57appeals, would have heard that

13:59complaint, would have made a

14:00recommendation based on it. And based

14:01upon what you're saying, I'm not saying

14:03you're incorrect. It could It's very It

14:05could be It could be and might be very

14:08likely that people are not being

14:10correctly given the information to

14:12freeze their assessments. At that point,

14:14HGI as our representative, the hearing

14:16officer, can go, "You're right." or

14:18"You're wrong."

14:19And even at that point, they would have

14:21the ability to come to us over HGI's

14:24recommendation and say, "We still

14:26disagree with HGI. We need relief." Then

14:28we as a council can act. That's the only

14:30role we have in this process.

14:33>> Okay. So, yes, I will bring that

14:34information back

14:36to our supporters and our partners.

14:37>> Okay. Thank you.

14:39Uh Council member, do you have some

14:41questions, anyone?

14:42>> Just one question.

14:42>> Okay. Go ahead.

14:44>> Good morning, guys. Uh just a general

14:46question. How could a property um have a

14:50reduction more than once during a 4-year

14:53uh reappraisal period?

14:56Because in the the assessor's letter, he

14:58flagged that a couple of the properties

15:00already had previous reductions during

15:02this 4-year period. And so, I was

15:04wondering how a property could receive

15:06more than one reduction during this

15:084-year period.

15:09>> Uh

15:10some of them

15:11may have a a change in character. They

15:13could have renovation, the fire.

15:15>> in his letter, he specifically said they

15:17didn't have any changes to the property.

15:20>> Um I mean, I'm not sure which one you he

15:22was referring to [clears throat]

15:23offhand, but there we could have gotten

15:26it wrong before.

15:28Um or there could be things that they

15:30they didn't bring to our attention. You

15:32know, there were several properties that

15:33they

15:34had added damage that still hadn't been

15:35fixed and while we're, you know,

15:37>> when you reduced it the first time you

15:39didn't encapture you didn't cover

15:41everything and so

15:42>> Exactly.

15:44>> Um one particular uh property, well,

15:46actually two, um are related to the old

15:49Mercy Hospital, the Lindy Boggs Center.

15:52That's actually slated for demolition.

15:54We already we had a ceremonial

15:56demolition of it. So, the the nature of

15:59that property

16:00basically it won't be there anymore next

16:03year. So, that's how it received that it

16:05might have received the change mid uh

16:07quadrennial.

16:08>> Understood. Okay. But but

16:11basically something has to change to the

16:13structure to the property for that

16:16reduction to occur.

16:17>> Or some new information is brought to

16:19us.

16:19>> Something that wasn't you didn't have

16:21beforehand.

16:22>> Which is which is why we have it every

16:24every year, not just every 4 years,

16:25because things change. Buildings get

16:27demolished or gutted, etc.

16:29>> Okay. All right. Thank you.

16:31Thank you. Councilman Brogdon.

16:33>> Good morning. Good morning, gentlemen.

16:35The uh the assessor's letter

16:37made a mention of a possible conflict.

16:41Can you flush that out? Um I'm not

16:43saying there is or is not a conflict,

16:44but just explain to us and the audience

16:47um what that potential conflict may be

16:49and how that person relates to this.

16:51>> Sure. So, the the the individual uh that

16:53was referenced is a professional that

16:55actually worked for the assessor's

16:58office in the past, uh worked for more

17:00than a decade at the Louisiana Tax

17:02Commission. So, somebody who's highly

17:03highly qualified. That particular

17:05individual did not sit in on or did not

17:09uh hear any of the properties that she

17:11might that person may have been in in

17:13the least bit affiliated with. So, I

17:15think simply the information um the

17:18Assessor's Office got on that one was

17:20erroneous. Uh moreover, again, the

17:22Assessor's Office has

17:249 8 10 11 12 people there at with us at

17:28Delgado who interacted with this

17:30individual, who knows this individual

17:32cuz again, she's worked in this area for

17:34years both at the Assessor's Office and

17:36at the Tax Commission. So, uh

17:38we as a protocol made sure that there

17:40was absolutely she this person was not

17:44involved at all in any of the

17:45assessments that she would have any

17:47affiliation with whatsoever.

17:50>> Thank you.

17:50>> Thank you.

17:52>> Ms. Clavenger.

18:00>> Good morning. Morgan Clavenger.

18:02Um I'm very concerned because uh

18:05you know, as deep of a dive as I have

18:08done personally over the years into the

18:10mysteries of the Assessor's Office,

18:12um in my recent foray into the Board of

18:15Review process, um the gentleman came in

18:19and in less under 2 minutes told me,

18:22"No, we I don't know who we was, but we

18:25cannot do anything for you. We're not

18:27changing anything." And the fact of the

18:29matter is is that

18:31all of our citizens who have lived

18:34through multiple storms and multiple

18:36snow storms, hurricanes, tropical

18:38storms, water main breaks, we have

18:40damage to our homes, unmitigated losses.

18:43And a roof

18:45a compromised roof continues to

18:46deteriorate if it's not replaced. So,

18:49yes, change has happened. It gets worse.

18:52And the fact of the matter is, our

18:54seniors are up against it. We are very

18:58very concerned about the overpayment uh

19:01that 2,500 seniors have overpaid on

19:03their age freeze. But at the end of the

19:05day, what this does is it hollows out

19:08the city. It forces people to sell at a

19:11loss and forces them to go into

19:14apartments or perhaps become homeless.

19:17This is a crisis and at this point the

19:20mysteries of the Board of Review are

19:22[snorts] not serving the citizens of New

19:25Orleans and I beg you all, beg you to

19:28create a better process. We need tax

19:31property tax reform all the way around

19:33and we cannot just

19:35go in these offices and sit and wait and

19:38be dismissed and not even heard because

19:41people are suffering. So, I'm begging

19:44y'all, please fix this process. Thank

19:46you.

19:47>> Ms. Clavenger, I know you might have

19:48missed the earlier part, but

19:51the the process for doing Board of

19:53Review is established by state law. So,

19:55I would really encourage you to talk to

19:56our legislators because I'm not There's

19:59certainly parts of what you're saying

20:01that I think are worthwhile, but I think

20:03you have to get that Well, I don't

20:04think. Sorry, Ashley, it's wrong. I know

20:06that we can't fix it here. So, the Board

20:08of Review process is set up under state

20:10law. If you want to change that process,

20:12that has to be done in state statute.

20:14>> need your help. I mean, what we were

20:15told is that the Board of Review

20:17represents the City Council.

20:19>> I know you were late, but you and you

20:22didn't you did miss the presentation.

20:24The Board of Review is the Council. All

20:26we can do is hear appeals that have

20:28reached the end of that process. We

20:30can't do anything

20:31up until the point that we get the

20:33appeals to us. We cannot file appeals on

20:36behalf of people. It's literally

20:38prohibited in the law.

20:38>> Oh, I understand that. Yeah.

20:40>> And we can't

20:41interfere in the process other than when

20:43it comes to us for final review. We're

20:45basically the appellate court. So,

20:48there is a lot of protections in place

20:51for the appellate court not to interfere

20:54with the appeals that are being filed

20:56and the appeals that are being

20:57processed. Some of the things you're

20:59suggesting that were suggested by

21:01Housing NOLA like extending the process

21:03or giving broader consideration of

21:05appeals, that has to be done in state

21:07law. So, I certainly appreciate that we

21:10are happy to advocate with you,

21:12but I would also appreciate if you would

21:14advocate as much to those legislators as

21:17you do to us.

21:17>> We will. And And you know, I mean, this

21:19is a crisis, as I said, but um you know,

21:23one of the concerns is also

21:25as the appellate court, it's in your

21:27court to approve the Board of Reviews

21:31a final

21:33>> Which

21:33>> recommendations. Is that correct?

21:35>> That is correct, which we're about to

21:36do.

21:37>> Okay. And so, within that, when you're

21:40looking at, obviously, tens of thousands

21:42of properties

21:43>> That's not how that works. You have to

21:45go We have 500 properties that went

21:48through the appeals process. So, if you

21:50don't file an appeal, there's no appeal.

21:52>> Right. And I did. And several of our

21:54neighbors did. I helped a lot of people

21:56file appeals.

21:56>> Then I think the separate question needs

21:58to be to talk to your legislator about

22:01your compliance with that appeals

22:02process that we don't have control over,

22:05because until your appeal goes through

22:06that process and comes to us, we can't

22:08do anything.

22:10>> Okay.

22:10>> All right.

22:11>> you.

22:12>> Mr. Hughes.

22:14>> Uh thank you. Um good morning. I do have

22:16a question, clarifying question for you

22:18all. I was a little perplexed that um

22:21there were um some apartment complexes

22:23in District E

22:25um where you all um recommended granting

22:27the appeal due to vacancies. So, so tell

22:31me how you arrive at that. Why Why would

22:33that

22:34What does vacancies have to do with

22:36the value of a property?

22:38>> Yes, sir. So,

22:40>> [clears throat]

22:40>> traditionally, there's three kind of

22:44modalities to value uh a a property. So,

22:48for example, I'll start with like

22:49residential property. You have just the

22:52the sales approach, which is how much

22:54would this house sell compared to

22:56another house in the neighborhood. And

22:57with small single-family homes, that's

22:59very easy to do.

23:01When it comes to commercial property and

23:03multi-family property, so anything

23:04that's above five units and above, that

23:07qualifies as commercial. Then you get

23:09into the income approach, and you also

23:12have another approach, which is the cost

23:14approach, which would be the cost to

23:16replace the building if it was

23:17demolished or destroyed by fire.

23:20So, when it comes to multi-family

23:22apartment buildings, like the one in

23:23question, the income approach is the one

23:26that's most considered. So, we take the

23:29presentation of what the appellant gave

23:32us, which is the rent roll, the the um

23:36expenses minus the property taxes, and

23:39you determine what the net operating

23:41income is, and then there's formulas

23:44used to to determine what the value of

23:46the property is compared to that. So,

23:50in our analysis, it's just surely just a

23:52recommendation. We're documenting that

23:55at the hearing, the the assessor's

23:57office was present or not, what

24:00documents the the appellant provided,

24:02and then what the conclusion is based

24:04off of that. So, in certain times,

24:08you'll have situations where the vacancy

24:11has increased in certain multi-family

24:13properties, so that each year the kind

24:15of the value of the property is going

24:17down because it's actually not producing

24:19anything. So, when it's an

24:21income-producing property, you cannot

24:24ignore the income approach to valuation

24:28of property.

24:28>> let me let me interrupt. I'm sorry. Um

24:31So, just for my knowledge, when when you

24:33all have these hearings or whatever, and

24:36folks are presenting you, these

24:37landlords are presenting you these

24:39figures, I mean, are these folks under

24:41oath? How do we know this information is

24:43accurate? How do we know we're not

24:45they're not making it up and trying to

24:47game the system?

24:48>> Um so, in our capacity, we are we're

24:51we're taking them at face value, and

24:53then we put that in the recommendation

24:55to you to

24:57>> and it it it appeared to be in order at

25:00the time.

25:01>> All right. Well, that doesn't give me

25:02much comfort. Thank you very much for

25:03that clarity, though.

25:06>> Councilmember Karen.

25:07>> Thank you. Thank you all for presenting

25:09today.

25:10It So, it's incredibly important that we

25:12have a process, obviously, that has

25:13integrity, fairness, and accountability.

25:16And here we have a situation where we

25:19have a

25:20elected official and his team

25:23points pointing out considerable

25:24concerns on a small number of specific

25:27properties, which you all have

25:28discussed. And while we can't

25:29independently verify these concerns at

25:31this time, I believe at this time it's

25:34wise for the council to take heed of

25:36these issues and the perceived conflict

25:38of interest without penalizing those

25:41that have gone through the the process

25:43to get relief. And as you noted in your

25:45presentation, you know, these properties

25:48that are not approved can go through

25:50appeals to the Louisiana Tax Commission.

25:52So, with that, members, I'm going to

25:54make a motion to change HDI's report to

25:58modify the recommendations to no change

26:01for the 41 unique properties mentioned

26:05in your report and as contained in

26:07Assessor Williams' letter dated October

26:108th, 2026. Can I get a second?

26:13>> Second.

26:14>> All those in favor?

26:16>> Aye. I'd like to comment, though.

26:19>> Seven yes, no nays.

26:21>> I'd like to

26:21>> comment, though. My button was pressed,

26:22but I just want to make your comment. I

26:24just want to make it clear. My button

26:25was pressed, and I've had that happen,

26:27unfortunately, before. But I just want

26:30to say that I would hope that in the

26:31future there'll be enhanced

26:33communication with the assessor's office

26:36and your firm. You're put in a position

26:38where you have to do certain work based

26:40on things that have gone on for multiple

26:42years, and I understand that

26:44disagreements can take place. But I'm

26:46going to certainly just ask publicly

26:48that there be enhanced communication. I

26:50don't like to read in the paper, to be

26:53very honest with you, something that is

26:55involving correspondence that is sent to

26:57me when the party that is being

27:00addressed hasn't been notified.

27:02So, I'm just asking that there be

27:04enhanced communications without using

27:05names. The second thing that I want to

27:07say is where where as I hear concerns, I

27:10want to say now in advance next year in

27:132027 from July 15th to August 17th

27:18those who paid taxes in the city of New

27:20Orleans can go to the assessor's office

27:23and appeal your assessment. Anyone who

27:26is an advocate for people in our city

27:30who feel that they've been aggrieved can

27:32share that information starting now

27:33because it's not going to change. There

27:35was a lot that went on because in the

27:37past it was only one week and you have

27:39to go and stand in a long line to get

27:41your assessment readdressed. Anybody

27:43who's been watching this process knows

27:45that there has been work and it has

27:47changed the process. So, now it's a

27:49month. July 15th to August 17th of next

27:52year, Housing NOLA and advocates, please

27:55you can start the process now. I

27:57publicize in my newsletter when the

27:59appeals process is open. You can also

28:02appeal online. So, you don't even have

28:04to come and stand in line as it was

28:06years ago. So, many changes have taken

28:08place but it's up to advocates to also

28:10share the the facts and information and

28:13if you want to see changes take place,

28:15use the state because for some reason

28:18some people can't seem to find their way

28:20to Baton Rouge and can't comment online.

28:23A lot of what the city of New Orleans is

28:25obliged to do is created in Baton Rouge

28:27through certain processes. I watch them

28:30and others watch them too, especially if

28:32you're an advocate. I encourage that.

28:33So, that's all. July 15th through August

28:3617th next year and let's have enhanced

28:38communications by all parties involved.

28:41>> Thank Thank you, Councilman. I agree I

28:43agree that that that the process has

28:45been adjusted to make it more accessible

28:47to the public in that that 30-day open

28:50date. And we also agree we we were

28:52blindsided by that letter. We we had no

28:54idea cuz we're working with the

28:56assessor's office on site through the

28:58whole process.

28:59Um so uh yeah, I think there's a better

29:01way to communicate.

29:02>> Yes.

29:02>> Okay.

29:04I believe with that we have completed

29:06all items before the Sorry, go ahead,

29:08sir.

29:08>> Your honor, sir. Um

29:09not all of those properties on that list

29:12were have that person involved.

29:14>> Okay.

29:15>> For the record. There are several

29:16residential properties that were just

29:19chosen.

29:20We don't know how they came up with

29:21those.

29:22>> Okay. Well, I I I look forward to you

29:23guys communicating with the assessor's

29:25office and look forward to what happens

29:27with tax commissioner regarding those

29:28properties. So with that, um that clears

29:30our docket.

29:31>> No, no, sir.

29:32>> All right, sir.

29:33>> the actual resolution

29:34>> Oh, I apologize.

29:36Okay, then. I'm jumping ahead of the

29:37process.

29:37>> And for the members' information, the

29:39exhibit that's referenced in resolution

29:4126-1 will be amended to include um what

29:44the council voted on via Councilwoman

29:46Karen's motion.

29:49>> Councilman Green has moved.

29:52Get a second.

29:53Seconded by Councilwoman Karen.

29:55All in favor? Aye.

29:57Any opposed?

29:59Here we should vote. There you go.

30:01Seven ayes, no [snorts] nays.

30:04Thank you.

30:06Councilman Hughes moves we adjourn.

30:08>> There's resolution R-2.

30:09>> Second.

30:11It's right there.

30:12>> The second one.

30:13And this just says that this will be

30:15certified to the tax commission.

30:26>> All right.

30:28Seven ayes, no nays.

30:29>> And now you can move.

30:30>> All right. Councilman Hughes moves we

30:31adjourn. Seconded by Councilwoman Green.

30:33All in favor, say aye.

30:35Opposed? Hearing none, we are adjourned.

30:37Thank you.

30:38We need to reset now for the next

30:41meeting.