Residential property owners to receive separate assessment, tax notices

Residential property owners in Lethbridge will receive separate assessment and taxation notices starting next year.

In the past, residential property owners would receive a combined Assessment and Tax notice in May, with property taxes due by the end of June. Starting in 2018, an assessment notice will be mailed out in January and a separate taxation notice mailed in May.

The City already mails separate notices to income-producing properties.

A study of 23 cities and higher population counties in the province was conducted. It found Lethbridge was one of five that hadn’t already moved to split notices for residential properties.

Sending out separate notices is expected to provide clarity to residential customers that they have an opportunity to appeal the assessment of their property if they feel the value isn’t appropriate. If an appeal of the assessment is filed, most revisions could be made before the tax rate is set. This is expected to provide greater certainty of tax revenues and more efficiency for tax assessors as well.

The cost to separate the notices and associated mailing costs are estimated at $50,000. However, the assessment and taxation department believes the expense will be offset by the fact property revisions would be completed early in the year, allowing them to use the most current data when setting property tax rates.