Early voting starts today and this Fall there are ten constitutional amendments on the ballot. Voters can find Better Louisiana’s full analysis of each amendment on our website.
In the meantime, leading up to Election Day we will be publishing snapshots of the amendments to give voters a digestible view of what they actually do.
Today we start with three of the amendments dealing with property tax exemptions for seniors and surviving spouses of disabled veterans.
AMENDMENT 1 AT A GLANCE
Changes: Allows surviving spouses of certain disabled veterans to transfer an existing property tax exemption to another home one time.
YES means: A surviving spouse could move to a new home once without losing the exemption.
Main consideration: The fiscal impact appears small, and the proposal extends an existing benefit.
Recommendation: ✅ SUPPORT
AMENDMENT 6 AT A GLANCE
Changes: Allows local governments, with voter approval, to provide additional property tax exemptions for qualifying seniors.
YES means: Eligible seniors could receive increasingly larger exemptions as they get older.
Main concern: Though participation is optional, the Constitution would establish specific benefits while giving local governments no flexibility to adjust them. They would also have to absorb any loss of revenue caused by expansion of the amendment.
Recommendation: ❌ OPPOSE
AMENDMENT 9 AT A GLANCE
Changes: Raises the income limit from $100,000 to $150,000 for senior citizens to receive a freeze on their property taxes.
YES means: More homeowners could qualify for protection against tax increases caused by rising property values.
Main concern: This would be a significant expansion of an existing tax break and local governments would have to absorb lost revenue without the ability to opt out.
Recommendation: ❌ OPPOSE
Click here for our complete analysis of all the amendments.