Yorkton Councillor Dustin Brears wants to see changes in how the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency determines assessment values.
At the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Brears brought four motions to the table regarding the issue.
One motion to explore and analyze using an agency or internal staff other than SAMA to provide the assessments for the City of Yorkton and surrounding communities (should the outside communities decide to come on board), was ultimately withdrawn.
A motion needs a “Saskatchewan” touch brought into it to make it more relevant and accurate for the communities in this province, was defeated with only Brears and Mayor Mitch Hippsley voting in favour.
The issue for Coun. Chris Wyatt was that going it alone was going to cost taxpayers far more than what the City currently contract SAMA for.
Coun. Randy Goulden added in 2016 the cost to go it alone was estimated to be $556,000 without appeal process costs.
“I’m thinking we get good bang for our dollars,” she said.
The other two motions met with greater success for Brears, both passing.
The first called for the City to include a disclaimer when sending out tax notices noting the assessment numbers being provided in this document are determined by SAMA and are in no way determined or influenced by the City of Yorkton. The assessment values are the sole responsibility of SAMA and all questions, concerns and feedback must be directed to SAMA.
Coun. Ken Chyz was on-side with the idea stating “Councillor Brears I really like where you’re going with this.”
However, Coun. Chris Wyatt suggested some caution, suggesting the motion was “making SAMA to be the villain” and they are trained assessors that the City contracts to do the work. The numbers need to be trusted until they are shown to be inaccurate.
The second motion called for the City to work to prepare a resolution request and support (SUMA) to begin the review and ultimate improvement to the “Assessment Rule Book” currently being used by SAMA to determine property values across the Province of Saskatchewan.
“I can support this if there’s a strategy behind it,” offered Coun. Randy Goulden, adding that strategy needs to include reaching out to other cities, talking to the local MLA about the process for change, and holding meetings within the community to gauge what a broad cross section of property owners think.
