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Revaluation Cycle

Res #: 16-14M
Number: 16
Year: 2014
Midterm: Yes
Expired: Yes
Responses Received: No
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations

WHEREAS there have been recent requests for the Province to move to a two year revaluation cycle versus the current four year cycle; and

WHEREAS a two year cycle will greatly increase annual assessment costs that will ultimately be passed on to the taxpayer; and

WHEREAS a two year cycle will not allow the timelines required for the Ministry of Government Relations to set the percentage of values for taxable assessment; and

WHEREAS Arable land is currently set at 55% and non-arable land at 40% taxable assessment and this will have major implications on the portion of education tax paid; and

WHEREAS a two year cycle for large urban centers can be accommodated through an equivalency formula or alternate methods at their own cost; and

WHEREAS any changes in property or new properties are picked up annually through annual maintenance at the request of the municipalities;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM request the Ministry of Government Relations to keep the revaluation cycle at four years for rural Saskatchewan.

MINISTRY OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS' RESPONSE

•    The Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) reviewed the revaluation cycle length after the 2009 revaluation.  Participants in the review included representatives from SAMA, the Rural Municipal Administrators Association, the Urban Municipal Administrators Association of Saskatchewan, the City of Regina, the Saskatchewan Association of School Business Officials, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Government Relations.

•        Government is not considering a change in the current four-year revaluation cycle at this time.  There is no consensus within the municipal sector.  SAMA has projected that there would be substantial incremental annual cost for a shorter revaluation cycle, estimated at $1.25 million for SAMA alone, not including the costs for other assessment service providers.

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