Assumption Parish Assessor Says Salt Dome Taxes Underpaid

NAPOLEONVILLE, La. (AP) — The Assumption Parish assessor says a special audit has found that owners and operators of caverns in the Napoleonville Salt Dome are under-reporting assessed values by hundreds of millions of dollars.

Assessor Wayne "Cat" Blanchard says it could mean up to $6 million a year in property tax revenues for the parish.

Blanchard says he's asking the Louisiana Tax Commission to add the audit's values to the 2013 tax rolls it already has approved for the parish. The already approved figures would bring in about $14 million in taxes.

The commission could consider the proposal Tuesday.

Spokesman Sonny Cranch says Texas Brine Co. has no comment. The largest owner and operator, Dow Hydrocarbons and Resources. Dow Chemical did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.