The Winn Parish Police Jury certified the 2024 ad valorem tax rolls as presented by Sherry Potts, chief deputy tax assessor for Winn Parish, at their September 16 session this week.

The report showed that the total assessed value for properties in the parish was $107.3 million (compared to $104.5 million last year), while the total of Homestead Exemptions came in at $18.1 million (compared to $17.8 million last year), leaving a total of $89.2 million in taxable value (compared to $86.7 million last year).

Potts explained that in the approval process, the dates of both when the assessment books would be open to the public for review as well as the dates of the board of review had been advertised.  During the 15-day period of public review, there were 16 inquiries.  On the two Board of Review days (August 28 and September 4), there were no appeals received.

The Assessor’s Office asked for Police Jury certification of the parish tax roll and received it Monday night.

In other action, the lawmakers approved purchases at state contract rates of new camera/security systems and access control for both the Courthouse and the Health Unit from Bit Happens.  Cost for the Courthouse system will be $97,352 while the Health Unit system will be $45,465.  Secretary/treasurer Karen Tyler reported she sought and received six different quotes and this was the lowest.

President Frank McLaren explained that the jury will receive state funding in the amount of $23,000 to reduce local costs on the Courthouse project while the Health Unit costs will be paid out of the Health Unit Fund and not cost the jury.  He described the old systems as “obsolete and outdated.”

The jury will also spend $20,438 four large rolling sheet doors and some personnel doors for the parish barn on Thomas Mill Road.  They are “very large and very needed,” explained Road Superintendent Perry Holmes who said that several cannot be moved while the others are “barely operable.”  The rolling doors are 12 feet wide and 14 feet in length.