Property assessments in Williams Lake remain stable, according to BC Assessment deputy assessor Darin Johnson.
“Most homes in Williams Lake are remaining stable in value compared to last year’s assessment roll,” Johnson said. “Most home owners in Williams Lake will see modest changes in the plus or minus five per cent range.”
Nearly 4,500 properties are contained in the City of Williams Lake Assessment Roll which saw an increase from $1.25 billion last year to $1.27 billion this year.
A total of almost $ 9.4 million of the increase was added through subdivisions, rezoning and new construction.
Property owners who feel their property assessment does not reflect market value as of July 1, 2014 or see incorrect information should contact the BC Assessment office.
“We’ve already received a few calls,” Johnson said. “And people have the option of appealing if they aren’t satisfied with the explanation they receive.”
All appeals go to an independent panel that sits Feb. 1 through March 15 to hear concerns and make decisions whether changes to assessments are warranted.
Then at the end of March, BC Assessment will provide a revised assessment roll to local governments who then along with the provincial government set the tax rates.
When asked if the Mount Polley Mine Breach will impact property values on Quesnel Lake, Johnson said BC Assessment has to follow the market to determine any impacts.
“It is based on sales, so we have to look at what is selling that’s affected and if it is actually changing the value,” he said. “You’d have to have a few sales to actually start to paint a picture whether there’s anything occurring.”
When asked about property sales on Quesnel Lake, Horsefly Realtor Linda Bartsch said it’s been “pretty much business as usual.”
Johnson said the total assessed value for the 2015 assessment roll for 355 waterfront properties located on Quesnel Lake is $67,706,601.
Properties within that roll include the portion of the Quesnel River extending immediately west past the main bridge, but does not include any properties located as far down as Quesnel Forks and any upland properties located in Likely.
The Cariboo assessment office is located at Suite 202 – 350 Barnard Street in Williams Lake. During the month of January, office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Property owners can contact BC Assessment toll-free at 1-866-valueBC or 1-866-825-8322 or online by clicking “CONNECT” at www.bcassessment.ca.
Visit www.bcassessment.ca for more information about the 2015 Assessment Roll including lists of 2015’s top 100 most valuable residential properties across the province.