This past week I received a notice of property assessment 2016 for our property here in Salmon Arm. My wife and I have lived here for 19-plus years and were shocked to have been informed that the value had gone up by $31,000 from $299,000 last year.
At first sight from the knowledge of previous years: if there had been home improvements, it would seem natural to bring on a change. However, nothing of the sort happened. Just the fact that a couple of properties were sold on the street is not an argument to raise it for all.
The other factor is that a major percentage of our population is getting on in age and as we know the Canada pension and OAS don’t give us these immense hikes.
Also the prices of veggies/foods have taken a big hike.
I do not understand that this is not taken into consideration.
This is in my opinionated understanding that the finance ministers need a hike to manage all their spendings. Has anyone ever audited these to find out whether spendings are in the interest of the people?
We do take care of our property: do our sidewalks in wintry weather conscientiously, even though we pay taxes for the city to do the job – they often come around a few days later. In the meantime, I, as a citizen, don’t want to take a risk of someone slipping and hurting themselves.
I could list a few things the city promised and never did because there is no money.
Would our neighbours, people who feel this is unjust, stand up to it and appeal to this unfairness?
One person can’t change this situation but all coming together will have an unmeasurable effect.
We elderly have time to do this bureaucratic stuff against unfairness or maybe we can’t be bothered and pay.
Heinz Hoetger
