I feel sorry for my postal carrier in January. Not only has the weather been challenging, but most people hate seeing him arrive with all those holiday bills that we’ve been able to not think about for a few weeks. This year also included that one extra letter homeowners have been dreading — their 2017 property assessment.
The headlines warned us about big increases. I read the BC Assessment press release that showed that Delta homes went up around 45 per cent. Funny that so many are complaining about that, since that kind of increase in any other investment would have us dancing in the streets.
Why is this seen as a bad thing? Just because the value of your home increased doesn’t mean you will have a corresponding increase in your property taxes. If you had the average increase in value, you’ll see an average increase in property taxes, which largely depends on what Delta council decides (usually in the three per cent range). Unless your home’s value increased by more than 45 per cent, there’s really not much need to panic.
Regardless of what your increase is, check out how they valued your home on the BC Assessment website. I did that many years ago and found my house was valued well above that of my neighbours who had homes with similar layouts. I registered to appeal the assessment, was given a date, did a bit of homework as to why I felt my home was over-valued and an adjustment was made. It’s a bit of a hassle, but not that hard. No one will do it for you, though, it’s your responsibility.
Still concerned? There are programs that help. Seniors and families with children can defer their taxes until the property is sold, with minimal interest applied. And it’s very easy, the folks at municipal hall look after it when you go to pay the bill. Just make sure you go in before the taxes are due.
Some seniors use reverse mortgages, which provide a stream of income based on the value of the home. For those folks, this assessment just gave them a bit of breathing room.
Save the concern for the spring when the actual tax bill arrives. At least the weather will be nicer.
I couldn’t write a column without recognizing Vicki Huntington. Her recent announcement not to seek a third term was a surprise. Regardless of your politics, she has been a good representative for our community.
When I ran for school trustee in 2014 (and didn’t win, again), Huntington sent me a letter as our MLA thanking me for putting my name forward. She also wrote a personal note on the letter, which I have never forgotten and still have to this day.
It didn’t take a lot of effort on her part, but it meant a great deal to me. That’s how she connected with the community, remembering every day who elected her, even if you didn’t vote for her. It was a human touch that sometimes gets forgotten between elections.
I say farewell, because I don’t believe it’s goodbye. Best of luck to you, Vicki, and thank you.
Brad Sherwin, MBA has over 25 years’ experience in marketing, public relations and business strategy. He is currently the director of marketing for a national non-profit organization.
