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Free Press
“spreading the word” November 8, 2002
Municipal officials critical of MPAC changes
Ontario municipal officials are not happy with the restructuring and downsizing of MPAC.
This month’s issue of Municipal World magazine, read by 40,000 people each month, contains an article on the Futures program, written by OPSEU retirees Bill Henry and Ed Faulknor. The article quotes several municipal officials. Here’s what they had to say:
“Prior to MPAC restructuring, our relationship with our local assessment [office] was very good.... Any information needed was generally provided right away or within a reasonable time frame. Since restructuring, I personally find that the level of service is not the same. The one-on-one contact appears to be gone. Information requested now can take up to two weeks or more for a reply.... Before, we were dealing with local issues with local assessors. Now these assessors could be from anywhere in Ontario and may not be familiar with local issues.”
- Gail Nisbet, Tax Collector, City of Guelph
“We always had an excellent rapport with the assessment program.... It was immediate and direct. We never had a problem we couldn’t resolve.... As far as I’m concerned, they’ve gone backwards.... I call Pickering about my back yard. It just doesn’t make sense.”
- Sandi Steuart, Manager of Revenue/Tax Collector for the City of North Bay
“We do have concerns about the accuracy of assessments as a result of staff cuts.... Everyone’s not totally honest, and we don’t catch everyone who puts in a new garage or pool. As far as I’m concerned, they’re reducing the level of service on the assessment side of things.”
- Thorold mayor Robin Davidson
“Models are fine for doing mass appraisals of homogenous properties in areas where sales are actually taking place.... But in diverse areas, or areas where there are too few sales to establish a base line for the market, you have to be sure of what you’re valuing. And that can only be done by visual inspection. I’ve never seen a computer walk up my street.”
- Floyd Jenkins, retired recently as Property Assessment Commissioner for the Waterloo region after 34 years in the field
“There is no question that MPAC’s success is a direct reflection of the skills and professionalism of its staff.”
- from MPAC’s 2001 annual report!