Louisiana
Louisiana State Treasurer visits West Monroe
WEST MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Louisiana Treasurer Dr. John Fleming spoke to the West Monroe Chamber of Commerce about the successes within the Louisiana treasury department since he took office.
He is especially proud of the Louisiana treasury’s unclaimed property program.
“In June, we actually did a data match with the Louisiana Department of Revenue to look at people that are owed money. Maybe refunds were sent to them but didn’t arrive, and we found that there were 27,000 people who did not get their refunds or whatever portion of their taxes they needed back. We sent out over $5 million.”
But the treasurer says it’s not all good news. Fiscally and economically, he believes Louisiana has a lot to improve on, especially when competing with neighboring states such as Texas.
“Dot coms, high tech; there’s all kinds of opportunities for the future, because they’re leaving California, they’re leaving New York, and they’re coming to the south, but right now, they’re skipping over Louisiana because they’re saying Louisiana does not have its act together. So I want to work with our governor and our legislature to turn our economy around. Get right with that, and they will come.
One way he believes some of these issues could be fixed is with tax reform.
“I’ve been evangelizing that we need to repeal the personal income tax because states around us, like Texas, Tennessee and Florida have done that, and their their budgets are doing fantastic, and their states economically are doing fantastically well, and yet we tax our people and our businesses, and we’re not doing so well.”
The treasurer says he sees a bright future for the state of Louisiana if changes can be made.
“I do support our governor, Governor Landry, who is making a very strong effort to change that through tax reform and other measures, and I support him in that, and I’ve been doing things, of course, as a treasurer, to turn around Louisiana. So I think Louisiana, if we continue along the pathway we’re going today, will have a brighter future.”
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
A motorcyclist is recovering after a West Monroe crash involving an 18-wheeler, while Chevron won a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling shifting a major coastal lawsuit back to lower courts. Ouachita deputies arrested a suspect and recovered more than a dozen guns, Mississippi passed a new school social-media safety requirement, and Louisiana’s House advanced a unanimous state budget. A new recovery center opened, and multiple weekend events are underway across northeast Louisiana, plus national updates include stock-market stress guidance, a Ford F-150 recall, Spirit Airlines uncertainty, and tax-refund tips.
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