RE: Real Estate Podcast

Clint C. Galliano (00:00)
ten constitutional amendments are on the Louisiana ballot on November third. You may or may not know what they're about. Today we're going to review all ten amendments. Let's talk about it.

Ben Harang (00:25)
Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of the RE:. Real Estate Podcast. My name is Ben Harang and with me as usual is my co host, Mr. Clint Galliano. How you doing today, Clint?

Clint C. Galliano (00:41)
I'm doing wonderful, Ben. How are you doing?

Ben Harang (00:44)
I'm doing terrific, man. the weather's nice. We could use some rain for a change. but it was cool this morning and things are happening, so life is good. I'll take it.

Clint C. Galliano (00:56)
Yes indeed.

Ben Harang (00:57)
So what are we talking about today?

Clint C. Galliano (01:00)
All right, today we're walking through all ten constitutional amendments that are on our November 3rd ballot here in Louisiana. Our main source for the information is the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, commonly called PAR or PAR, and it's nonpartisan guide to the fall amendments. We're not telling anybody how to vote, and nothing today is tax or legal advice.

Ben Harang (01:28)
Right, right. All right. We're gonna get right in it 'cause there is t there are ten of and we don't want this to go on too long. So here we go. Amendment number one is a property tax exemption transfer for disabled veterans spouse.

Clint C. Galliano (01:45)
All right. A vote for would allow the spouse of a disabled veteran who is eligible for a special higher property tax exemption to move to a different home and keep the exemption after the veteran's death in a one time transfer.

Ben Harang (02:04)
And a vote against would keep the requirement that the spouse of a disabled veteran who is eligible for a special property tax exemption must live in the same home after the veteran's death to continue receiving the exemption. That's just both both sides of the argument. You make up your own mind.

Clint C. Galliano (02:25)
Moving on to amendment two, local authority over property tax rates.

Ben Harang (02:32)
A vote for would give local taxing authorities more flexibility and time to decide if they want to change the maximum property tax rates available to them or maintain a lower rate.

Clint C. Galliano (02:46)
A vote against would give the local taxing authorities only until the next property reappraisal cycle to decide whether to charge the maximum property tax rate available to them or a lower rate.

Ben Harang (03:01)
Amendment number three, post conviction bail for certain offenders.

Clint C. Galliano (03:07)
A vote for would prohibit bail for people convicted of certain aggravated offenses against children under state law.

Ben Harang (03:18)
And a vote against would retain provisions allowing people convicted of certain aggravated offenses against children under state law to receive bail.

Clint C. Galliano (03:30)
Amendment four term limits for governors.

Ben Harang (03:35)
A vote for would limit anyone elected Louisiana governor to two four year terms in a lifetime rather than two consecutive terms.

Clint C. Galliano (03:48)
a vote against would retain the current system that limits elected Louisiana governors to two consecutive terms, allowing them to run again after time away from the office.

Ben Harang (04:02)
number five, retirement of debt payments.

Clint C. Galliano (04:07)
A vote for would give Louisiana legislature and the state retirement systems the authority to determine the order in which surplus dollars will be applied to retirement debt.

Ben Harang (04:22)
And a vote against would retain rules that require the Louisiana legislature and the state retirement systems to use surplus dollars to pay the oldest retirement debt first.

Clint C. Galliano (04:36)
Amendment six, property tax exemptions for the elderly.

Ben Harang (04:43)
A vote for would allow parishes and municipalities to increase the property tax exemptions available to certain elderly homeowners in Louisiana as they age from sixty-five to eighty-one.

Clint C. Galliano (04:58)
Vote against would retain the current statewide property tax exemptions available to homeowners who are 65 and older.

Ben Harang (05:08)
Amendment seven, public spending on drinking water utilities.

Clint C. Galliano (05:13)
A vote for would ensure public funds can be spent on identification and replacement of lead-based drinking water lines that run from public property to a person's home.

Ben Harang (05:26)
A vote against would retain existing provisions that limit the use of public funds on private property and maintain the current exceptions already allowed.

Clint C. Galliano (05:38)
Amendment eight, expropriation of property by foreign adversaries.

Ben Harang (05:44)
A vote for would prohibit private companies connected to countries deemed a quote foreign adversary from expropriating private property.

Clint C. Galliano (05:57)
A vote against would retain current rules governing expropriation of private property.

Ben Harang (06:05)
Amendment number nine Expansion of Property Tax Freezes.

Clint C. Galliano (06:13)
A vote for would allow homeowners with incomes up to $150,000 to qualify for a property tax exemption assessment freeze.

Ben Harang (06:23)
And a vote against would keep the current one hundred thousand dollar income threshold for property tax assessment freeze.

Clint C. Galliano (06:34)
Amendment ten, tax exemptions for rehabilitated property.

Ben Harang (06:40)
A vote for would create an optional program that allows parishes to provide property tax exemptions for rehabilitated property that had once been blighted or derelict.

Clint C. Galliano (06:54)
A vote against would maintain current property tax exemptions, which don't include authorization for parishes to create a new tax break for rehabilitated properties.

Ben Harang (07:07)
All right. That was that's a mouthful and that's some dry stuff, Clinton. And it i it's a hobby of mine and I that I I have trouble getting through that.

Clint C. Galliano (07:17)
Yeah, that's it's some of that and I know I looked at it two, three weeks ago and I got past the first two and it's like, okay, I gotta take a break. And

Ben Harang (07:29)
Yeah.

Clint C. Galliano (07:29)
you know, ultimately we're providing this so you at least know what the amendments are about and you can make your own decisions on whether to support or vote against them.

Ben Harang (07:41)
Right, in and par of Louisiana, Public Affairs Research of Louisiana, has a twenty five page document. If you really want to read to find out what they're about, help yourself do a go search online for Public Affairs Research Louisiana and you'll find it. And good luck staying awake

Clint C. Galliano (08:01)
And we'll

Ben Harang (08:01)
while reading it.

Clint C. Galliano (08:03)
we'll we'll we're also gonna have the link to it in our show notes. so

that'll that'll help you. and whatever we share on social media will also have the link to this report.

Ben Harang (08:15)
the November third election is everything from national, state to local races. So do yourself a favor and get out and go vote on November third if you have not voted yet. It seems like the polls might be quiet on on Tuesday Tuesday the third because so many people voted early.

So if if the estimates are right, it'll mean that more than thirty more than fifty percent of the votes were actually cast during the o early voting period rather than on election day. So we no longer have an election day, we have eight election days is what it amounts to. and we have one left, which comes on election day. So get out and go vote and you don't have to make your opinions known, but cast your ballot.

To be engaged in the process.

Clint C. Galliano (09:15)
Exactly. Because if you don't, people who don't have your best interests in mind may actually put their best interest in mind above yours.

Ben Harang (09:27)
That

that might happen. That might happen. and I think we need to stop talking about politics before I get in trouble.

Clint C. Galliano (09:35)
All right, we're done with politics. All right.

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Ben Harang (10:47)
All right. I think you covered it. It's RE: Real Estate Podcast dot com. Everything you ever wanted to know about us. I think we got another one in the can, Clint.

Clint C. Galliano (10:57)
Yes, sir. Thank you, Ben.

Ben Harang (10:58)
All right. Have a good one.

Clint C. Galliano (11:00)
You too.

Ben Harang (11:01)
See ya.