Whereas the current process for implementing BC Assessment Authority valuation changes resulting from appeals or administrative revisions requires local government to retroactively issue tax refunds or supplementary charges within the same taxation year, creating significant and unpredictable financial impacts on local governments; And whereas local governments have no control over the timing or outcomes of assessment appeals or corrections, yet are solely responsible for funding the resulting tax adjustmentsoften requiring the repayment of substantial amounts from local tax revenues, and thereby undermining financial stability and budget certainty; And whereas a deferred adjustment modelwhereby changes arising from appeals or identified data discrepancies are reflected in the next completed January or revised March assessment rollwould enable local governments and other taxing authorities to set tax rates based on an updated and stabilized tax base, while still allowing property owners to benefit from a successful appeal in the following tax year: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the provincial government to review and revise the procedures governing assessment roll adjustments to ensure that: - revisions resulting from assessment appeals or identified data inconsistencies are not applied retroactively through the supplementary roll; - local governments have a mechanism to address factual discrepancies in assessment data outside of the formal appeal process; and - all appeal-related adjustments are incorporated into the next Completed or Revised assessment roll, to mitigate unanticipated financial impacts on local governments and support a fair, predictable taxation environment for all stakeholders.
