October 1, 1999
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

The following is being distributed at the request of the Municipal Assessment Agency:

Assessment fees unchanged

The board of directors of the Municipal Assessment Agency has announced the agency's fees for property assessment services for the year beginning on April 1, 2000. During their meeting in Corner Brook last week, the board voted to hold the line on assessment fees for the next year. The fees will remain unchanged from the present level of $22.50 per parcel, despite the elimination of the provincial operating subsidy. The province provided a subsidy of $500,000 for 1999 and no future grants are anticipated. Effective April 1, 2000, the municipalities will be fully responsible for funding assessment services. Municipalities will receive more information from the agency's board in a client newsletter, due out in early October.

The province established the Municipal Assessment Agency in 1997. The agency provides real property assessment services to 230 municipalities in the province.

Media contact: Walwin Blackmore, Spokesperson, Board of Directors, Municipal Assessment Agency, (709) 489-0412.

1999 10 01 11:05 a.m.