Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Price we pay.

Well received my 2012 Property Assessment and Tax Notice today.
Couldn't open the envelope fast enough to see if the 2.5% tax increase was real or not.
First of all my assessment went down $1420 on a $327,000 property a difference of less than half a percent so a virtual non factor.
So I took last years taxes $2,721 times 2.5%, I should be looking at a tax increase of $68.03 shockingly my taxes went up to $2,873 a difference of $152. My trusty calculator tells me that is an increase of  5.6%? why am I surprised? have we been misled?

Will be interesting to see what other people have experienced?

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

My Assessed value dropped 5180$ or about 2%.
My Taxes went up 83$ or about 4%.
Far cry from 2.5%
Maybe the coucilors can explain?
Services have been cut, every bill that they can raise has gone up and taxes are going up faster than inflation.Where does it end?

Anonymous said...

Here is a good laugh my single wide trailers value went up $1000.
My taxes went up 5.1%

Anonymous said...

Well, those who were Happy that we only had 2.5 per cent tax increase are in for surprise. As far as anyone with a calculator can tell taxes are up by 5. 6 per cent. The municipal component seems to be 2.5 when you look at the commercial increase which does not have a school assessment. How were they hoping to pull through a 4.5 per cent increase in a similar fashion is hard to understand.

Anonymous said...

Being just a weekender was there any of you locals that were foolish enough to think that taxes would only going up 2.5%.

Anonymous said...

At election time some of the councilors seemed to unnderstand the negative consequences of the high tax burden. What they have been doing at the head office since the election shows otherwise.

Anonymous said...

Just read the previous post to this one and you will see why a 2.5% increase would not do.

Anonymous said...

Dean, the reason that we all are seeing tax increases higher than the 2.5% advertised in the CNP Budget Communication (CNPBC), is that one of the key numbers used in the CNPBC is outright wrong. My 2011 Property Tax Assessment and Tax Notice had the residential mill rate set at 5.6271716. The CNPBC has 5.728047. If you use the CNPBC number, you do indeed get a 2.5% increase for 2012. However, if you use the correct number from 2011, the increase is 4.3%. I've looked through all my previous assessment notices, and I can't find a year where the residential mill rate equals the 2011 value in the CNPBC, so I have no clue where that number came from -- is it simply a typo? By the way, my taxes (excluding school) went up by 4.05% (i.e. less than 4.3%),since my assessment went down a bit.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:33
I think they added the CNP seniors housing expansion to the residential mill rate from your 2011 tax notice. This is not included on your 2012 bill.The mill rate has gone up by 2.5%. The lions share of your tax increase is from the school tax which comes as a bill from the province.
The problem I have with this is that this is the only council that does this. They only tell you what the increase is for their share and not the provinces share.Overall property taxes went up about 6% and council tells us it is 2.5%. Why lie, do they really think we are that stupid!!!

Anonymous said...

If the last council had taken the same approach to communicating (selling/misleading) their tax increases. The numbers would have been in the range of 1-1.5% for 2009 and 2010.

Larry

Anonymous said...

Nice touch that they sent us both the Tax notice and the utility bill on the same day.
One kick in the nuts followed by a second.
Maybe this is a dumb idea but could they not have saved thousands of dollars by sticking both in the same envelope?

Anonymous said...

Tax increases are a fact of life! Anyone who was foolish enough to vote for someone who claimed “I will not vote for any increase to property taxes for any reason - period! “ deserves what they got.
Even if counselors keep their promises, they are still a useless, if they do not work hard for the people and convince the rest of council to vote the same way.
I do not need a calculator to see my property taxes have gone up more than 2.5%, that I am the victim of tax grabs in other areas, and services have been cut.
Ironic that they are bringing in goons to fine us for not doing, what they took away. (Spring cleanup)

Anonymous said...

Lets not forget there are increases in Water + Sewer and Electricity to come yet.
Plus all the other little increases in fees and charges that have not been talked about yet.

Matt

Anonymous said...

I am not upset by the small increase. I think it could have been a lot worse. Say 6.5 or more like Calgary. I think the services are really good for our tax dollars. Excluding no one being able to step up and having to get an out of touch CEO for all those months. Hopefully with all the changes and money there are qualified people so that will never have to happen again.

Anonymous said...

You folks want some really good humour your taxes are also going up in 2013 and 2014 by Two and a half percent.

Anonymous said...

Well, so that is pretty reasonable.
Taxes do go up every year you know.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 2:04 taxes do go up every year. Plus we are very lucky here to receive all the great services and facilities that we do.
I would gladly pay even more if I had to.

Pat

Anonymous said...

Don't worry Pat, you are paying more than 2.4%, and this is a nice place to live. We just have to make sure it remains affordable.

Anonymous said...

My taxes went down $25 and my property Value decreased by $10 000.

Anonymous said...

Also, Due to the decrease in my assessment my mortgage is now more than what my property is worth.

Anonymous said...

Is it not funny that the councilors who have blogs have not posted anything regarding property tax.I guess they do not want to explain what the reality is.
This is the reality for me, Higher taxes, higher utilty bills, cuts in services.
If they do not change a thing such as hiring more staff or using consultants,would our taxes actually have gone down? I know council is doing what they beleive is best for the CNP, I just wish they would explain to us how extra staff and consultants actually help us.

Anonymous said...

My taxes went up 6.2%. Do I really care how that percentage is broken down; not one iota.
I voted for change, and I admit there have been many changes. I am just struggling to figure out which one's are good for me.

Anonymous said...

what happens when the housing market bubble pops and real estate values correct/decrease, will taxes stay at 2.5%

Anonymous said...

I think we all have to take a deep breath and realize that tax increases are unavoidable.
The issue in my mind is always how much.
My concern with lies with all three levels of government in Canada. Most often tax increases are driven by the politics of the day,the promises of politicians at election times.
Nobody should lose site of the impact of demographics and the role its going to play in Canada in general, and for municipal purposes in the Crowsnest Pass.
Over the next twenty years the largest category of the population will become seniors.
Every year our standard of living is being cut by taxation at all levels.
That is why I believe that all tax levels should never be increased by more than the rate of inflation.
If that was legislated politicians would have to be more responsible regarding the promises they make.
My CPP went up 2.8% this year, I could accept tax increases being tied to the CPI at least I would maintain my standard of living.
So lets not get upset at tax increases, let get upset at politicians who promise too much and increase taxes by an unreasonable amount.

Andy

Anonymous said...

Regarding the following:

Also, Due to the decrease in my assessment my mortgage is now more than what my property is worth.

Huh, don't quite get the connection to that comment.
Also, too many comments,
"what if, what if" in a couple of years or whatever - can't live that way, things change that we have no control over. Live and be happy NOW.

Anonymous said...

Want to know where your tax dollars are going check out the Municipal web site and read the minutes you will be amazed. I provide the following:

"The Protective & Community Services Summary Worksheet for Enforcement- Peace Officer was
presented.
• Automated Traffic Enforcement (ATE) was researched by Donna Tona, Interim Manager
of Protective Services. The Solicitor General requires a population of 5,000 to begin the
process of obtaining ATE. The Crowsnest Pass does require a policing agreement with
the RCMP as per the Crowsnest Pass Regulation.
• In order to provide proper chain of command within an enforcement unit, one of the
peace officers will be required to have a Sergeant’s Rank which will require a salary
adjustment.
• Peace Officers require updated training including a 40 hour Emergency Vehicle
Operations Course, Animal handling, and Use of Force.
• Formal documents are being prepared for the order of two Peace Officer units and their
equipment. Each vehicle will be equipped with Camera systems, radar, laser, onboard
computers, work consoles, prisoner transport system, rubber flooring system, OnStar,
lighting and siren system, vehicles are equipped for off road and factory tailored for
towing, and one unit will be equipped with a winch system, bumper guards with LED
lighting, shotgun system for wildlife only and a digital evidence work station. Cost of
each vehicle with the associated equipment is approximately $70,000.00."

Anonymous said...

Mine went up $178 from $2815 to $2993.
6.3%

Diane

Anonymous said...

I honestly cannot believe that a single wide trailer value went up by $1000. I think some people post just to be funny ha ha ha ha ha.

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:14 Thank you for the info.Does everyone understand what ATE is? This is photo radar!!Is this something you think we should have in the CNP. Not me.
As for the peace officers vehicles at 70,000 plus insurance, fuel , upkeep etc, Plus wages, we are probably looking at an average of about 120,000/year/peace officer.
So each PO will have to write on average a 60$ ticket every working hour.Does this seem reasonable for the CNP? It seems way out of line to me.Any thoughts?

Anonymous said...

Actually photo radar would be great in my opinion. Have you seen some of the drivers????? If you go the speed limit and follow the rules as you should, no need to worry.
Today I was walking down a totally isolated street, and this red car passed me and my dog, on the wrong side of the road. She was like going 60 on a residential street. Bring them on.

Anonymous said...

It is still not clear whether the municipality will get to write tickets along the highway, and if we get to do this, will we still get our share of the monies that the province doles out from their tickets? The Mayor seemed to ask the consultant about this, and the answer was?