25 Nov 2025 Budget Address
2025 Budget Message
This budget reflects a renewed commitment by the St. Tammany Parish Assessor’s Office (STPAO) in acquiring the latest technology to achieve the most accurate data and tax roll, while ensuring effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency. We strive to provide taxpayers with excellent, timely customer service, leveraging advanced technology to help minimize property taxes by utilizing all eligible exemptions, special assessments, and verified data.
Our Geographical Information System (GIS) has progressed to substantial completion and transitioned into maintenance mode, requiring fewer financial commitments going forward, with over 132,000 parcels drawn, achieving 98% completion. Our aerial data, provided by EagleView, will now perform flights every two years, compared to every four years previously, and captured at a higher resolution, at nearly the same cost.
New office technology initiatives include TrueRoll monitoring and prescreening of Homestead Exemptions and other Special Assessment applications at the time of submission, to avoid duplicate or improper exemptions. Homestead Exemptions, Assessment Reviews, and Business Personal Property filings are now all available digitally, with an ever-increasing number of filings being submitted online each year.
Additionally, we are investing in new Apex drawings parish-wide using aerial imagery to improve data and CAMA (Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal) accuracy in parcel information.
The original millage rate for STPAO was established in 1985 at 2.90 mills and rose to 3.21 mils by 2004.
From 2013 to 2024, my office reduced the maximum millage rate—the highest authorized rate that may be levied—from 2.73 to 2.49 by not rolling forward; over a 7% decrease. STPAO permanently decreased the rate by .24 mills, now saving taxpayers over $725,000 annually. Our levied maximum adjusted millage rate has been reduced from 2.71 in 2013 to 2.31 in 2024 down .4 mills or total saving to taxpayers over $1.2 million in 2024. On several occasions, we levied millage rates below the adjusted maximum rate.
Looking ahead to 2025, we have no plans to roll up to the new maximum millage rate. In fact, provided the numbers hold, we may implement further rollbacks in 2025, to set an example for other taxing bodies to follow. Following reassessment, we do plan to continue further reductions, which may require us to roll up and levy the 2.49 mill rate once before 2028 to legally preserve the maximum millage rate for the future, if needed.
Among our other tax saving efforts, we also reduced expense reimbursement requests from the parish agencies. Revenue projections reflect increased interest rate on deposits and total ad valorem tax revenue growth from new construction and discoveries. 2024 budget expenses reflected gearing up appraisal staff and technology for the 2024 reassessment cycle.
We also maintain total salaries and benefits to keep up with inflation, promote staff retention, maintain experience level and historical knowledge in preparation for 8-10 retirements in next several years.
Among our office, the median age is 56 and average age is 54. We are projecting 2024 salaries and benefits at 72.5% of Grand Recap net of Phase-in. We reallocated funds between operating and professional expenses anticipating greater legal costs post 2024 reassessment. Salaries and benefits are projected to be less than 70% in 2025. They were 92% when I took office in 2013.
It is still way too early to know with any certainty what the 2024 tax revenue will be after Phase-ins, Disabled Veterans, and First Responder exemptions, etc., but one mill parish-wide will ultimately be worth just over $3 Million.
It is our mission to serve the citizens of St. Tammany Parish with fairness, efficiency and responsiveness. I am thankful for my team of dedicated employees who strive every day to accomplish this goal, especially during the 2024 reassessment process.
The St. Tammany Parish Assessor’s Office has made aggressive investments in technology to enhance accuracy, transparency, and efficiency. Thanks to this and the growth of the tax base, we have been able to lower the millage rate and reduce property taxes for our citizens, and for this I am very proud.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank You