While reading a recent edition, I came upon a story about a councillor having issues about the assessment on her property. I used to work for Canada Post and always remember delivering these notices to retired people.
They shuddered at the thought of opening the envelope and finding an increase in their property value.
As every year goes by, the paltry increase in Old Age Security and Canada pension didn’t come close to the expected increase in property taxes.
These poor souls would go and inquire about what to do and were told that if you can’t afford willy-nilly increases from the spend-thrifts at city hall, you should sell your house and move to a more seedy neighbourhood, that you can afford to live in until your money runs out. Then, by that time, you can move into a retirement complex where every hard-earned nickel you have left will be quickly deleted from you.
Of course, they could go and have their assessment re-evaluated. As they are lambs to the slaughter, they have no idea what to expect. The main thing, they are told, is to find a house in their area that is similar to their house that is assessed less. Sounds simple enough.
Their turn comes, they are asked to show proof, to which they do in that a house built by the same builder with the same floor plan three blocks away, is assessed $15 thousand less.
A pregnant pause and a decision comes forth from the mount. Drum roll. They are thanked for bringing this to their attention and the people whose house is assessed less, finds their assessment is increased, magically, $15 thousand.
Then they are told that because the assessment is higher, is no reason to expect a tax increase.
The mill date determines the actual increase, so you may find your taxes are lower.
Coincidentally, you can go to the real estate office down the road and ask them if they have any bridges for sale.
So what will eventually happen? These people have to sell their house long before they wanted and life goes on. Back to The Morning Star article. Now that the cat is out of the bag and someone higher up is having this experience foisted on them, just how much sympathy do you suppose will be given from you and I?
I am sure the mill rate will be way lower and no real tax increase will be forthcoming (see previous note about a bridge being for sale), except that she and her cohorts can’t resist double inflationary increases.
So good luck to her. Hopefully, she will try to keep these taxes to a more reasonable increase. Isn’t it nice when the big tax stick actually whacks someone other than you and I, the lowly minions?
By the way, don’t think you’ll be immune as we all have to pay until we can’t afford it anymore.
Bob Johnston
Vernon
