Property Tax Assessments

Assessment is the process of assigning a dollar value to a property for tax purposes. This value is used to calculate the amount of taxes that will be charged to the owner of the property.

Assessment value

Assessment value is determined by market value. The market value is the price a property might reasonably be expected to sell for. The assessment is based on the July market value from the previous year.

Your assessed value can be different from the bank mortgage appraisal or real estate appraisal. Private appraisers evaluate property according to market conditions on the day they complete the appraisal. Municipal assessors determine the property values and conditions at set dates so all municipal assessments and subsequent taxations have a fair and equal base

Assessment roll

An assessment roll is a listing of all assessable properties in a municipality and their assessed values. The Municipal Government Act requires each municipality to produce an assessment roll by February 28 of each year.

Residents can review and compare their assessment through the Property Search Link.

Appeals

Property taxes cannot be appealed. Property assessments, on which taxes are based, can be appealed. It’s important to review your annual assessment notice when you receive it and report any concerns within the 60 day complaint period indicated on your notice.

If you believe your property assessment is unfair or inaccurate, contact the tax department (Call 780-929-3306) to review it. Your concerns will be forwarded to the City assessor who will contact you directly, if necessary.

If the assessor agrees that the original is not accurate, an amended notice may be issued. If the assessor and property owner cannot come to an agreement, the property owner may begin the formal complaint process with the Assessment Appeal Board.

Download the Assessment Board Complaint Form [pdf].

Read more about the City’s process in the Assessment Appeals document [pdf].

Supplemental assessments

Properties with improvements finalized in the current year are assessed through the City’s Supplementary Assessment bylaw. The City collects property taxes on the improvements for a portion of the current year.

This process is triggered by a final occupancy inspection report. An assessor will determine the value of the new improvements added since December 31 of the previous year.

The Supplementary Assessment & Tax Notice is prorated so only the days from when the final occupancy inspection report is issued are being taxed. Notices are mailed at the end of October and taxes are due November 30 and required in full, even if enrolled in the tax installment plan.

Tax Installment Plan

The Tax Installment Plan (TIPS) permits taxpayers to authorize 12 equal automatic monthly withdrawals from your selected bank account to be applied against your property taxes, rather than 1 single annual payment on June 30th.