(Information from www.sama.sk.ca/ )
What is an Assessment?
An Assessment is the act of determining a property’s value.
What is the relationship between property assessment and taxes?
The key difference is that assessment – determining assessment values for all properties – is SAMA’s responsibility, while the task of setting property taxes belongs to municipal governments. The relationship between assessment and taxes comes from the fact that municipal governments levy taxes as a “mill rate” that is charged as a proportion of property’s assessment value.
Assessed value X Municipal mill rate = Property Taxes
Why did the value of my property change?
One of two things may have occurred:
- The real estate market may have changed. Market forces are the usual cause of a change in assessments. These changing markets are seen every four years when SAMA does a “revaluation” that updates assessments using a new base year.
- A property may also have been changed. For example, the buildings may have been upgraded. The change in physical data can happen any time.
Why is it that my assessment value may not match what I just paid for a property, or what another appraiser said my property is worth?
To create an equitable system, SAMA determines assessments that reflect long-term values, and avoid short term market fluctuations. The selling price for any individual property is always subject to short-term, local market conditions, not on long-term fair value. Even their assessments, however, may not be the same as what an individual buyer and seller may agree upon when selling a property.
What happens if I disagree with my property’s assessed value?
There is an appeal process you can follow. Contact the Town Office or SAMA regional office.
I’m not sure if I should appeal. How can I find out if the assessment of my property is accurate?
First, contact the Town Office and ask if an assessment open house or information meeting may have been scheduled. That will be an important source of information. You can also contact the nearest SAMA office, they would be happy to discuss the methods used to arrive at the value of your property.
Who decides how assessments are done?
The policies, procedures, and standards for assessment are determined by SAMA, and must be followed by all Saskatchewan municipalities. This job is mandated to SAMA by provincial legislation title ” The Assessment Management Agency Act.”
Who conducts assessments?
Each municipality determines who will conduct the assessments of its properties. SAMA has a staff, expertise and regional offices to provide this service and is contracted by many municipalities to do their assessment maintenance, revaluation and reassessment work. Some larger municipalities maintain their own staff of assessors.
What is a base date?
The base date is the year on which property assessments are determined. For that reason, revaluations are done every four years so that assessed values remain as up-to-date as possible. The current revaluation was implemented in 2021 and is based on 2019 market conditions.
When is the next revaluation?
The next revaluation will be completed in 2025.
