ANTIGONISH: Antigonish Municipal Council is urging local property owners to review their preliminary assessments for 2018, which are now available on the Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC) Web site.
“It’s an opportunity to contact them and let them know what your concern is and start the appeal process,” said Antigonish Warden, Owen McCarron.
The PVSC introduced a province-wide preliminary assessment period three years ago. Previously, property owners would not have access to the information until final assessments were mailed in January. At that time, property owners would have 30 days to start the appeal process before tax bills were circulated based on the assessments. After the deadline in February, it becomes more difficult to change the information. The preliminary assessments allow residents more time to review their property information and address discrepancies.
“Once the appeal period goes by, that information is sent to the assessment roll,” said McCarron. “We would encourage people to have a look… and to get a hold of the PVSC to have a discussion on your concerns.”
Preliminary assessments will not be mailed to property owners. They will need to visit the PVSC Web site or call the service centre to access the information using their civic address. Residents have until November 30 to contact the PVSC with concerns regarding the preliminary assessments. As in previous years, paper copies of final assessments will be mailed out in January to residents, who will then have 30 days to appeal.
It has been an eventful month in the Strait area with the PVSC’s recent announcement of the closure of their Port Hawkesbury office. Following Tuesday’s meeting, Warden McCarron expressed concern about the closure.
“We’re shocked by the news and disappointed as well,” said McCarron, who pointed out that after the closure, the closest service centers will be in Truro and Sydney.
McCarron said that the Strait Area Mayors and Wardens Committee plans to send a letter to the PVSC to see if consideration will be given to maintaining the office.
“It sounds like they are going to continue to staff the office until at least the end of February, but we’d like to see a presence there on a more permanent basis. We’re not sure where that will go,” said McCarron.
Property owners my view their preliminary assessments any time by logging in at: www.pvsc.ca or by phoning 1-800-380-7775.