LMR_October FINAL 2018

A Word from
Our Affiliates
Premium Service
New Growth and a Fresh Face at LaMATS
Insurance Premium Tax Collection (IPT) Program
By Cliff Palmer
The list of Louisiana municipalities now receiving IPT
revenues through the long-running LaMATS collection
program has reached an all-time high. The majority of cities
and towns (with 65 and 89 participating, respectively),
nearly half the state’s 107 smallest incorporated communities,
and several parishes now count on LaMATS to deliver
on this vital budget item.
Among the earliest of LaMATS technical services, the twenty-year
old IPT program has grown significantly since 2010
IPT program growth has accelerated in recent years.
and recently passed the two-thirds mark toward its goal
of serving every LMA member municipality not collecting
insurance premium taxes on its own.
“This is a major milestone for us,” said LaMATS Board President,
Mayor Clarence Fields. “We’re grateful to our participating
local governments for their trust, and we’re eager
to demonstrate our value to others.”
What makes the IPT program so popular? With over 1,200
insurance companies doing business in Louisiana, it can
be hard to ensure each pays its fair share for the privilege
of that business. LaMATS collection service is proven to
increase IPT revenues and streamline distribution while
significantly reducing insurance companies’ delinquent
payments.
In all, $22.9 million in collected revenues now pass annually
through the program and into the coffers of local governments
across the state. And as it happens, every penny
of that sum passes through the hands
of LaMATS IPT Program Manager, Ms.
Mary Joseph.
Known by friends and colleagues as
“MJ,” Mary joined the LaMATS team
in October 2016 after working in the
LMA’s accounting office since 2010.
She takes her new responsibilities
with a seriousness belied by the quick
wit and ready smile she shares with
co-workers and customers alike.
Meeting LMA members’ needs and
making sure every dollar is accounted for requires both
order and creativity. While incoming funds from hundreds
of insurance companies are carefully tallied and monthly
checks are distributed to members, the value of the work
lies in the trust municipalities give the program manager
to operate on their behalf.
The other part is pure detective work and sometimes it is
necessary to track companies down and make sure they’re
fully aware of their responsibilities. The companies seem
to appreciate having a centralized point of contact statewide—a
direct benefit to efforts at reducing delinquent
payments.
LaMATS looks forward to pushing the percentage of LMA
members served as high as it can go in the coming years.
To join the LaMATS IPT collection program, contact Mary
Joseph, Program Manager, via email at mary@lamats.net
_______________
IPT Program Manager
Mary Joseph
Editor’s Note: A heading in the September edition of the LMR
incorrectly dates the LaMATS Board of Directors as 2017-18.
All officers listed on page 11 of Vol. 83, No. 9, have been elected
for the 2018-19 year.
LMR | October 2018 Page 11