While the nation’s economy slumps, two local lawmakers are asking each local taxing body for a financial concession: don’t roll forward property taxes this year.

As 2008 property assessments come to a close Oct. 16, homeowner’s property values are, on average, 30 percent higher than last year and thus carry higher taxes, according to the St. Tammany Parish Assessor’s Office.

But state Reps. Tim Burns, R-Mandeville, and Kevin Pearson, R-Slidell, called on all local taxing agencies to save residents from the financial dagger. With the shaky economy already harming personal finances, they urged agencies not to “roll forward,” or collect the higher tax rates allowed under state law. “Everyone is facing increased fuel costs, bank failures, a mortgage crisis, a stock market in a nose-dive, and the likelihood of flood insurance costs ballooning,” Pearson said. “Outrageous increases in property taxes are an added and unnecessary burden.”

“We have to do anything we can to protect our homeowners,” he said.

One homeowner in particular saw his home in skyrocket $150,000 this year, and over the past four years some homes have surged 150 percent, Pearson said.

“Here’s a guy who voted on a 3-mill tax years ago and now has to pay double what he bargained for,” Pearson said.

He’s not alone. With the surges in property values, more than 30 St. Tammany Parish taxing bodies can now collect, if they chose to, 30 percent more tax revenue with their existing millage rate.

State law however, requires those rates be lowered or increased to the same amount collected the previous year. After that’s complete, however, agencies can cast a two-thirds vote and decide to either roll forward, meaning to raise the rates to collect the maximum benefit, or roll back, which lowers the rates to give taxpayers a reprieve.

“We’re asking everybody to roll back,” Pearson said.

Already, St. Tammany, with 170 mills, is among the highest taxed parishes in the state, compared to one of the second highest in Lafayette, with 90 mills, Burns said.

“Put that on top of rising mortgage and gas costs and … well we have to draw the line somewhere,” he said.

Burns, a small business proponent, even went as far as to question whether new businesses will start in St. Tammany if high property tax rates aren’t rolled back. He called on the public’s support.

“The only way to stop the taxing bodies from adding additional taxes and (fueling) insult to injury to our already stretched budget and rising insurance costs … is for the public to act in this time of extreme economic uncertainty and hardship,” he said. “Oppose these hidden tax increases.”

Pearson said already the St. Tammany Parish School Board has promised not to roll forward, and he stopped short of saying those agencies that don’t roll back will be publicly singled out.

Pearson and Burns kicked off their campaign Wednesday night at a board meeting of Florida Parish Juvenile Justice Commission. That body, the first in the parish to do so, was slated to adopt its millage rate based on its 2008 tax rolls. Its tax rate, however, won’t be complete until reassessment is finished Oct. 16.