Could a West Feliciana school board member also work for the parish tax assessor?

Plain-English summary

A West Feliciana Parish school board member asked whether she could also work for the parish tax assessor. The AG said no. The dual-officeholding statute expressly barred a member of a school board from holding any office or employment with an assessor.

The opinion was narrow. It quoted the controlling clause and applied it to the two roles described, without analyzing job hours or duties.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 2006. Subsequent statutory amendments, court decisions, or later AG opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current legal advice. Verify current law before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or remedy mentioned here.

Common questions

Could this school board member keep an assessor’s office job?

The AG said no. The statute it quoted prohibited school board members from holding any assessor office or employment.

Did the AG make an exception for part-time work?

No exception was discussed. The quoted clause covered “any office or employment” with an assessor.

Background and statutory framework

The opinion applied one clause of R.S. 42:63(D) from the Louisiana Dual Officeholding and Dual Employment Laws to an elected school board seat and assessor employment.

Citations

• R.S. 42:63(D) (school board and assessor employment bar).

Source

• Landing page: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinions
• Original PDF: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinion/Download/06-0096

Original opinion text

April 28, 2006
OPINION 06-0096

78 Dual Officeholding
Ms. Ruby M. Givens
R.S. 42:63(D)
West Feliciana Parish School Board
An elected member of the parish school board may not hold
P.O. Box 1852
any office or employment with the parish tax assessor’s office.
St. Francisville, LA 70775

Dear Ms. Givens:

You have asked this office to advise you whether you may be an elected school board member and at the same time be employed by the parish tax assessor’s office.

Unfortunately, the law prohibits one from holding these positions concurrently. R.S. 42:63(D) of the Louisiana Dual Officieholding and Dual Employment Laws states, pertinently:

“ . . . . In addition no sheriff, assessor, or clerk of court shall hold any office or employment under a parish governing authority or school board, nor shall any member of any parish governing authority or school board hold any office or employment with any sheriff, assessor, or clerk of court.”

The statute prohibits a member of any “parish governing authority or school board” from holding “any office or employment with any . . . assessor.”

Very truly yours,

CHARLES C. FOTI, JR.
ATTORNEY GENERAL

BY: _______ KERRY L. KILPATRICK
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL

KLK:ams

Page 2

OPINION 06-0096

78 Dual Officeholding

R.S. 42:63(D)

An elected member of the parish school board may not hold any office or employment with the parish tax assessor’s office.

Ms. Ruby M. Givens
West Feliciana Parish School Board
P.O. Box 1852
St. Francisville, LA 70775

Date Received:
Date Released: April 28, 2006

KERRY L. KILPATRICK
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL