Homeowner who missed appeal deadline stuck with fat bill
One Hatter is making it her mission to raise awareness of the City of Medicine Hat’s rigid tax assessment policies after the value of her home was overestimated by $120,000.
Julie Tracey was shocked to receive her latest property tax notice, which escalated her monthly bill by more than $200. When she inquired at the city’s assessment office about it, she was informed the additional $120,000 value had been assigned because her house now featured a finished basement and garage.
Tracey posted video of herself on Facebook touring her home to challenge this statement, and the video clearly shows both basement and garage are not finished as the assessor’s office claimed.
“As much as I would hope the city would own up to their mistake, and at least give me credit for next year’s taxes, I don’t think that is going to happen,” said Tracey in an interview on Thursday. “I hope they review their policy on how these assessors go out and make these decisions. As far as I am concerned what was filed was fraudulent, because they had no proof or evidence to base their decision on.”
Tracey admits she either misplaced or did not receive her self-assessment notice in February; so was unaware an assessor had been dispatched to her home. This person never toured the interior of the home. Tracey has been told no adjustment will be made by the assessor’s office until next February, because she was supposed to have appealed by April 30. She will also not be given credit for any overage she might pay on the incorrect assessment.
“Now that I have had to learn a hard lesson, hopefully it will save somebody else from going down the same path,” she said.
The News contacted the city’s finance department to look into the case. While unwilling to speak about the specifics of this particular grievance, the city’s general manager of finance Dennis Egert said any errors on the assessment are typically the responsibility of the homeowner to catch.
“Our general practice has been once the assessment process has been closed and finalized that any adjustments which occur after that date would be applied toward the next assessment cycle. We do however, look at each case on an individual basis. We invite any taxpayer that has any concern to call the assessment department,” said Egert.
Egert confirmed homeowners are not typically credited for overage paid on incorrect assessments, and there is no formal process in place to have a mistaken assessment re-done after the 60-day appeal period is over.