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LAPLACE — The St. John the Baptist Parish Assessor’s Office now has a translator on site to assist Spanish-speaking residents. The service will be offered twice a month from noon to 4 p.m. on Fridays at 1811 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace.

On several occasions, Assessor Lucien Gauff has seen residents come into the office who are unable to communicate with staff due to a language barrier. To facilitate services in a timely and effective manner, staff had to quickly locate a translator from another parish department.

The new translator on site twice a month will be paid through the Assessor’s Office, just like any other part-time employee or summer worker. Offering the translator will help overcome roadblocks in serving the local community, according to Gauff.

“With our growing Hispanic community, we wanted to make sure we are communicating effectively and being inclusive to everyone in the community,” Gauff said. “We don’t want anyone to feel like they are being left out.”

All customers who visit the Assessor’s Office must provide a name and an address to be access information on properties.

The Assessor’s Office is responsible for discovery, listing and valuing of all property in St. John the Baptist Parish for ad valorem tax purposes. Property includes all real estate, business movable property (personal property) and all oil and gas property/equipment in the parish.

The sheriff is the tax collector in St. John Parish and is responsible for sending tax bills and collecting taxes based on the assessments and millage rates set by governing bodies such as the Parish Council, the St. John School Board, and others. The annual parish tax bills are sent out in the latter part of the year and due by Dec. 31.

For more information about the Assessor’s Office or the new translator service, please call 985-652-5311.