Jason Giles, a former attorney convicted of staging wrecks and filing false insurance claims to collect millions, is currently in jail and awaiting sentencing in September.
Before his conviction, records show Giles lived in a home in East Lakeshore, an upscale lakefront neighborhood in New Orleans.
A capital investment firm purchased the property in 2019 for $515,000, and city hall records show permits were issued for renovations before Giles bought the home in 2020.
Zillow estimates the property’s value at over $1.3 million, consistent with other homes in the area that typically sell for over $1 million.
However, the Orleans Parish Assessor’s website lists the home’s tax assessment at $484,000 — below its 2019 sale price.
State Rep. Mandie Landry, who follows property tax issues in the city, said, “There are just some houses where it doesn’t make sense where they’re listed at $10, and they need to be listed at $100.”
Property tax assessments determine how much homeowners pay in taxes, with lower assessments resulting in lower tax bills.
Assessments are updated annually in New Orleans, and a state-mandated reassessment of all properties occurs every four years.
Val Cupid, a longtime Lake Area activist critical of property tax assessments, said, “It’s favoritism, it’s not fair, and I think it’s a major reason people are fleeing the inner city.”
Errol Williams, the elected assessor for Orleans Parish who has been in public office since 1985, acknowledged the discrepancy in Giles’ property assessment.
Through a spokesperson, Williams told WDSU Investigates, “We missed the renovation and will have a revised assessment on the property for the upcoming tax year.”
Williams defended his office’s assessment process.
He sailed to re-election last fall and during our Hot Seat debate, said, “In our case, we use comps as part of our process, we analyze sales for a three-year period and come up with an average price per square foot and apply it to each property.”
Records show Orleans Parish has one of the highest numbers of property tax assessment appeals in Louisiana, with over 500 appeals filed last year.
Williams said he encourages appeals, stating, “As an assessor, I am unique in this respect — I encourage people to file an appeal. The reason why — that’s our opinion.”
While most appeals are filed by property owners who believe their assessments are too high, Giles’ home appears to be assessed far too low.
Williams said the issue will be fixed, but some question whether action would have been taken without WDSU Investigates highlighting the discrepancy.
“They need to do their job, do your job — instead of adding new taxes,” Cupid said. “Tax everyone fairly? Yeah, tax everybody fairly. I am all about fairness.”
READ MORE:Convicted New Orleans lawyer’s home assessed far below market value
