PROPERTY ASSESSMENT NOTICES FOR 2014 DELIVERED THIS WEEK

On Wednesday, January 8, any required 2014 Assessment Notices will be mailed to the owner’s property or properties located in Saskatoon. The Assessment Notice lets owners know the assessed value of their property, which is then used to determine how much property tax must be paid. Property Tax Notices will be delivered in May 2014, once education rates are determined as part of the provincial budget. 

Since 2013, property owners have been paying property tax each year based on the value of their property as of January, 2011. Province-wide revaluations take place in Saskatchewan once every four years; 2013 was a revaluation year, and 2014 begins the second year in the four year assessment cycle.

“Our goal is to create and conduct property assessments that place fair, accurate, and equitable values on properties,” City Assessor Les Smith says. “Increases or decreases to the amount of property tax due to the 2013 revaluation are phased-in over the four year cycle,” adds Smith. “The annual tax bills will be adjusted each of the four years to include any appropriate phase-in adjustments.”

The City of Saskatoon collects taxes on behalf of the City, the Provincial Government for the Public and Separate School Boards, and the Saskatoon Public Library. Each taxing authority establishes its annual budget, and after taking into consideration other sources of revenue, determines the total revenue required through taxation.

The City uses a valuation approach that ensures property values are a reflection of the market value on a given date.  Factors like location (neighbourhood) of the property, traffic patterns around the property, views, and the property structure are all used to determine an assessment value. Adjustments are also made for other factors including size, age, style, garage, etc.

As this is a non-revaluation year, property owners have 30 days to appeal their assessment. Appeals can be made until February 10, 2014, by mail to: Secretary, Board of Revision, c/o City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 222 - 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7K 0J5.

Property owners, visit saskatoon.ca and click on ’A’ for Assessment, or use the Property Assessment Online Tool which provides market and assessment information.  Property owners can also contact Assessment and Taxation at 306-975-3227 for additional information, or visit the Assessment and Taxation Division in person at 4-325 Third Ave N, located one block north of City Hall.

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