There will be eight proposed constitutional amendments on the November 8th ballot. We have studied these amendments and make the following recommendations:
Amendment 1 -AGAINST
This amendment requests permission to allow the treasurer to invest up to 65% of the state trust funds in stocks. The idea is to gain more from stock proceeds. However, stocks are not predictable. Just as the state could gain from stock investment, the state could also lose.
Amendment 2 – FOR
This amendment will exempt totally disabled veterans from property taxes on their homesteads.
Amendment 3 – AGAINST
This amendment wants to allow family members of political candidates who are employed by the state to campaign for them and attend political rallies. It’s a bad idea that will certainly be abused if passed.
Amendment 4 – FOR
This proposal will allow water districts to lower water bills for customers if water loss was beyond the customer’s control.
Amendment 5-FOR
This amendment will give local taxing bodies more time to decide if they want to “roll forward” millages that increase property taxes paid by businesses and homeowners.
Amendment 6- FOR
This amendment Limit will put a 10% cap on the increase in homestead property in New Orleans. As restored neighborhoods surrounding hurricane ravaged areas increase in value, the cap will help homeowners to adjust to new tax fees instead of getting a huge bill all at once.
Amendment 7 – AGAINST
On its surface, this amendment appears to ban slavery or involuntary servitude. However, after it was introduced the wording was switched by the legislature to ban slavery but still allow free inmate labor under the guise of “lawful administration of justice.” The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Jordan, is opposing this altered version of the bill. If it fails, he plans to reintroduce his original amendment to ban slavery in all situations next year.
Amendment 8- FOR
This amendment would allow totally disabled citizens to receive qualified property tax breaks without having to prove their income every year. They would be on the same level as senior citizens and veterans who are not required to prove their income annually.
