According to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), which has assessed the value of nearly 4.7 million properties across the province, Flamborough’s preliminary 2009 Current Value Assessment will see a 5.9 per cent increase on residential properties, the second highest increase after Dundas at 6.8 per cent.

The total property value boost, which is to be phased in over a four-year period, reflects a property’s value a as of January 2008. But according to David Baulcomb, Municipal Relations Representative for Hamilton’s MPAC offices, property assessments don’t necessarily mean a tax hike.

“What they (property owners) should really focus on is their 2008 value...and determine if they feel it’s a fair value of that property,” he explained.

According to MPAC, if the assessed value of a home has increased by the same percentage as the average in the municipality (5.6 per cent for 2009 in Hamilton), there might be no increase in the property taxes paid by a property owner.

But Ward 15 councillor Margaret McCarthy disagrees. “It ultimately translates to a tax increase,” said McCarthy, adding that she does not believe that the CVAs are reasonable and encouraging property owners to appeal their MPAC assessment.

“I can see myself that there are a lot of For Sale signs sitting for a long time. I don’t believe that people are getting the prices that they expected and hoped for and therefore it (their property value assessment) should be challenged,” she said.

The assessment, which is directed by the provincial government, analyzes sales within the community and various key features, including a property’s location, lot dimension, living area, age and quality of construction.

Phase-in

Flamborough farms have also increased in value since 2005 by 33.2 per cent, approximately 2.8 per cent less than Hamilton’s farmland average of 36 per cent, which will also be phased in over four years starting in 2009.

Robert Pasuta, Ward 14 councillor and local farm owner, has seen a 27 per cent increase in his property’s value. While his constituency office has received some calls from concerned area residents on the issue, he said he hasn’t received “as many as I expected at this point in time.”

While a property’s increase in value may only signify a $100 or $200 tax increase, explained Pasuta, “Some people are living on pretty tight budget lines. Actually, a lot of people are.”

If homeowners aren’t satisfied with their property assessment, they can file a Request for Reconsideration by March 31, 2009.

The MPAC website, explained Baulcomb, also provides a wealth of information on the CVA and allows owners to log into the not-for-profit organization’s About My Property system to gain information about their property and evaluate its assessment with comparable properties.

If property owners are still dissatisfied with MPAC’s re-evaluation of a property, they can file an appeal. The appeal process, explained Baulcomb, comprises a “true hearing,” which gives the homeowner the opportunity to present evidence detailing what they believe is the true value of their property.

Although this matter is out of McCarthy’s municipal jurisdiction, she encourages homeowners to submit requests for reconsideration and appeal the findings.

“I understand that I am stepping into provincial territory and I don’t have jurisdiction, but I want to help my community in trying to reduce the financial burden on them,” she said.

Pasuta concurred, adding, “Everybody that has a concern, they should appeal to MPAC.”

Current Value Assessments will take place every four years. According to MPAC, the phase-in program does not apply to decreases in assessed value. The full amount of a decrease will be applied during the 2009 tax year.

Further information is available at www.mpac.ca or by calling MPAC at 1-866-296-6722 toll-free. The MPAC Contact Centre is open from 8 a. m. until 6 p. m., Monday through Friday.