Your help needed! The rush is on to get support for technical changes to homeowner rehab credit (HB348)

 You can help promote preservation in Louisiana! NOW is the time to contact State Legislators about an important piece of legislation crucial to preservation.

Rep. Walt Leger has agreed to sponsor HB 348, which extends and also proposes technical changes to the existing state homeowner rehab tax credit passed in 2005. We need your help in urging your State Legislators to co-author this bill! Contact information for legislators can be found here: http://www.legis.state.la.us/

Major points to make in soliciting support are: 

• The homeowner rehab credit expires next year, so it must be extended this year. 
• The total amount of credits to be awarded annually will remain the same.
• Tax revenues are generated prior to the award of the credit. This is good for the state and the economy.
• The tax credit is given out when the project is finished and is spread out over 5 years.
• The percentage of rehab costs allowed as a credit is increased for vacant and blighted properties. Many historic properties are at risk throughout the state, representing a downward trend which could be reversed with this credit.
• The credit as proposed will be an effective tool for revitalization and rebuilding the population of neighborhoods, towns, cities and the entire state.  

Please ask your legislator to contact Rep. Walt Leger to co-author the bill. Rep. Leger’s email address is legerw@legis.state.la.us and his phone number is (504) 556-9970. We are grateful to Rep. Leger for sponsoring this important bill and for his continued support of preservation efforts.

It is critical to act quickly on this as the session starts next Monday, April 25. You can view the bill online at http://legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=740908.

Many thanks, and we can’t wait to find out what properties are eventually restored in your town because of this credit!