Survey Finds New Orleans Property Tax Changes Would Undermine Local Nonprofits

A new report from LANO highlights the potential danger of proposed changes to property tax policy in New Orleans and stresses the value of nonprofit services to the municipality. According to the report:

"The exemption from taxation on property devoted to charitable purposes is based upon the value returned back to public sector.

"The mission work of exempted nonprofits saves government the expense it would otherwise have to shoulder at a greater cost to the tax-payers without the nonprofit leverage.

"At a time when there is an increasing gap between the amount of public funds to address public expectations and need, further eroding the savings that are realized by nonprofit-public partnership seems ill-advised."

Findings from the recently released New Orleans Nonprofit Property Tax Exemption Survey Report include the following points:

• Accuracy of assessments is vital in order to make informed policy decisions
• Potential tax liability and actions to offset that cost may do more harm than good
• Nonprofits have seen a decrease in funding
• Nonprofits contribute by leveraging private dollars to provide services on behalf of the City

Also, the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs' agenda includes an update on the Committee's study of the nonprofit property tax exemption in Louisiana. 

A meeting on this issue will be held at the State Capitol Friday, Dec. 16 in Committee Room 6 at 10am.

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