Northern Region Property Assessment Notices Sent

Assessment notices are in the mail today, Jan. 16, to 570,000 Nova Scotia property owners. In the northern region of Nova Scotia, which includes Cumberland, Colchester, and Pictou counties as well as East Hants, the total value of residential property assessments is just over $5.6 billion, an increase of 5.9 per cent from 2005. Commercial property assessments total $2 billion, an increase of 2.3 per cent.

"Municipalities use assessment information to determine their annual property tax rates," said Terry Hartling, regional manager of the northern assessment office. "Property assessments reflect the real estate market of the past couple of years. The most common reason for an increase in a residential assessment is that the value of a property increased as a result of a strong real estate market. If someone has recently made renovations to their property, such as a new deck or garage, that will also contribute to a change in their property assessment."

Property assessments for 2006 are based on the market value of properties on Jan. 1, 2004. Property owners may appeal their 2006 property assessment if they believe that it is not a reasonable estimate of market value on Jan. 1, 2004. To appeal, they must fill out a form provided on the bottom of their assessment notice and return it to the regional assessment office no later than Monday, Feb. 6.

To help property owners get more information about their assessments, notices include a personal identification number along with their assessment account number. By entering this information on the assessment website, www.nsassessment.ca, owners can look up assessment information about their property. Those without Internet access can obtain this information and get their assessment questions answered by calling 1-800-667-5727.

"Assessment services staff welcome calls from property owners regarding their property assessments," said Mr. Hartling. "We especially encourage property owners who are thinking about appealing their assessment to call us on our toll free number, so they can obtain more information."