Assessor seeks help to pinpoint taxable properties

GONZALES, La. (AP) - Mert Smiley campaigned for the Ascension Parish Assessor's Office on allegations that his predecessor wasn't fulfilling the duties of the office and on promises to voters that he would do more if elected.

Smiley said there were numerous properties in the parish that either weren't properly assessed or weren't even on the parish's tax rolls.

After taking office, Smiley hired additional personnel and instituted a program designed to find every property in the parish and make sure it was properly assessed.

So far, more than 300 residential properties or improvements missing from the tax rolls have been discovered, along with more than 80 commercial properties not on the tax rolls.