(photo courtesy of Air and Space Forces Association)
The constitutional amendment that passed by the most overwhelming margin was Amendment 1. That allows the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran to retain the service-related property tax exemption after moving. It passed with 75% support. Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton Meginley says whereas before it made no financial sense for survivors to downsize after the deaths of their veteran spouses, it now gives them a lot more flexibility.
“It lets the spouse carry the exemption in the amount previously claimed to the new qualifying primary residence. It’s a one-time move; it takes effect January 1st,” Meginley explained.
Meginley says the total value of these tax exemptions statewide is only about $168,000, which is a miniscule number relative to the overall state budget.
“We estimate that there are about 230 or so surviving spouses that claim the exemption of 2025, so we’re talking about a very small number of spouses who claimed the exemption,” Meginley noted.
Meginley says military spouses make so many sacrifices themselves, so this is one way to show them gratitude.
“We roll in, we do our job, we get deployed; but it’s the spouses who are taking care of the kids. It’s the spouses who are taking care of the homes, while we are away doing what the American people have asked us to do,” Meginley said.
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