CROWLEY, La. ( KLFY )– First responders in Acadia Parish will now pay less in property taxes.

Acadia Parish Police Jury President Beau Petitjean said there are 62,000 people that live in the parish and only about 1,000 are “here to protect,” such as firefighters and police officers.

“These guys are one of the reasons Acadia Parish is the best parish,” Beau Petitjean said.

Acadia is one of the few parishes in the state to adopt the statewide amendment that passed by 53% in 2023. The law requires local governments to “opt in” and provide property tax exemptions for first responders in their parish.

The tax exemption takes $2,500 off the assessed value of properties owned and occupied by first responders in Acadia Parish. This is in addition to the Homestead Exemption, which exempts the first $7,500 of the property’s taxable assessment.

Acadia Parish Assessor Jim Petitjean said the value of that in Acadia Parish is about $150 of exempted parish taxes.

First responders must be a full-time, public employee whose duties include responding rapidly to emergencies and who reside in the same parish as their employer, including peace officers, fire protection personnel, certified emergency medical services personnel and emergency response operators and dispatchers.

Beau Petitjean said first responders are deserving of the tax break because “they wake up every morning and put their life on the line to protect not only me but my family and other people’s property.”

Acadia and Lafayette Parishes are the only parishes in Acadiana adopting the tax exemption.

All participating parishes include Acadia Parish, Ascension Parish, Assumption Parish, Jefferson Parish, Lafayette Parish, Livingston Parish, Natchitoches Parish, Orleans Parish, Plaquemine Parish, St. Charles Parish, St. Tammany Parish and Tangipahoa Parish.

Qualifying first responders have until the end of August to apply for the property tax exemption for this year. To find out if you qualify, contact the Acadia Parish Police Jury or the Acadia Parish Assessor.

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