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

Agency holds Annual General Meeting

The Municipal Assessment Agency held its annual general meeting in Grand Falls-Windsor on May 4. All board members attended the meeting as did the agency�s shareholder, Oliver Langdon, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs. The agency reported that its business plan is progressing well and there is no increase in the fees for assessment services. Highlighting the meeting was the introduction of Property Assessment, A Co-operative Approach, a video presentation on property assessment in Newfoundland and Labrador.

At the board meeting on May 5, the board reviewed the impact of the proposed collective agreement with NAPE on the operations of the agency. Agency staff are members of the General Service bargaining unit. The tentative agreement will add more than $700,000 to the agency�s operating costs over the next three years. Despite the cost of the settlement the board confirmed the fee for assessment services at the 1999 level for this year and next.

Board chairperson Randy Simms said the board is pleased, despite the increase in expenses, to contain the cost of the agency�s services at $22.50 per parcel and provide Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with one of the lowest cost assessment services in Canada.

The Municipal Assessment Agency provides real property assessment services to 231 municipalities across the province.

Media contact: Sean Martin, Executive Director, (709) 724-1532, (709) 685-3981.

2001 05 07                                              5:05 p.m.