EDMONTON – More than 1,860 people have already called city tax assessors with questions about their property assessments, city officials said Friday.
That’s in addition to people who called 311 and had their questions answered without being referred on for a possible adjustment. Staff are trying to return all queries within three business days, but “they are definitely busy,” said Rod Risling, branch manager for taxation and assessment. “We’re managing the call volume fairly well. Now is the time to call.”
Property assessments were mailed out Jan. 3.
The assessment is used to set each homeowner’s share of the city’s total tax bill once the appeals period is passed and the city finalizes it’s budget. This year, the city intends to collect slightly more than $1 billion in property taxes, which is an increase of 5.4 per cent from last year.
Most people reporting errors are letting the department know they haven’t received their assessment yet, or setting up a monthly payment plan, Risling said.
There is no fee to call a city assessor with a question if a homeowner believes there is an error in their assessment. Last year, 170 people had their assessments reduced that way, Risling said. To reach a city assessor, homeowners can call 496-6388. That line is staffed around the clock.
An informal query to the city saves homeowners the expense of filing a formal complaint with the provincial assessment review board. Filing a provincial complaint costs $50. This year, the deadline is March 12.
Risling said it’s more likely a tax assessor can correct a problem without the $50 fee if the homeowner calls now than if they wait until nearer the deadline, since many adjustments require a visit to the property.
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