<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Are the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury members assessed property taxes?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The panel members themselves — as property or business owners — are subject to the same ad valorem taxes as everyone else, said Tax Assessor Wendy Aguillard.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">But the Police Jury as a governing body is exempt from taxation, Aguillard said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In addition to the homestead exemption — which excludes the first $7,500 of assessed value from taxation — the law exempts churches and other nonprofit groups from paying property taxes, she said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Some other ad valorem exemptions, according to Section 21 of Louisiana Constitution Article 7:</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Public lands and other public property used for public purposes.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Medical equipment leased for a term exceeding five years to such a nonprofit corporation or association which owns or operates a small, rural hospital.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Property of a bona fide labor organization representing its members or affiliates in collective bargaining efforts.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">Fraternal organizations, professional or trade groups, and nonprofit corporations “devoted to promoting trade, travel, and commerce.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Boats using gasoline as motor fuel.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Commercial vessels used for gathering seafood for human consumption.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Ships and oceangoing tugs, towboats, and barges engaged in international trade and domiciled in Louisiana ports.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Materials, boiler fuels, and energy sources used by public utilities to fuel the generation of electricity.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“All artwork including sculptures, glass works, paintings, drawings, signed and numbered posters, photographs, mixed media, collages, or any other item which would be considered as the material result of a creative endeavor which is listed as a consignment article by an art dealer.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyListing">“Coal or lignite stockpiled in Louisiana for use in Louisiana for industrial or manufacturing purposes or for boiler fuel, gasification, feedstock, or process purposes.”</span>

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<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.calcasieuassessor.org.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AHeadBrief">Fiscal note includes daily cost of session</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: ‘Lucida Sans’;" class="R~sep~ACopyBody">I would like to now how much it costs the state to hold a legislative session?</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A Legislative Fiscal Office note from last year says the cost per legislative day averages $25,000 for the Senate and $35,000 for the House.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The note says the tallies include “per diem for members and desk staff, support staff wages, staff overtime, related benefits (1.45% Medicare, 6.2% FICA, and 41.2% Retirement), and travel allowance for members.”</span>

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<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Online:</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.legis.la.gov.</span>

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<span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The I</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nform</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">er answers questions from rea</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ders each Sunday, Monday a</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">nd Wednesday. It is re</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">searched and written by</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Andrew Perzo</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">, an</span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">American Press</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">staff wri</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">ter. To ask a question, call</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">494-409</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">8 and leave voice mail, or ema</span><span style="font-size: 8pt;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">il informer@americanpress.com.</span>