Outrage is being expressed by many homeowners after they got their property tax bills in the mail this week. The provincial government’s attempt to get municipalities to keep tax rates stable for property owners has apparently failed miserably.
In November, the province encouraged municipalities to stop introducing property tax increases that were significantly higher than inflation. It created the Property Tax Assessment Mechanism to address rapidly rising tax bills.
Finance Minister Greg Byrne finds it disappointing only five of the 83 municipalities in the province where a reduction was recommended did so.
Eighteen communities weren’t encouraged to take action because there was little change in the market value of properties.
