City to examine policy to improve corrections for tax errors
Devin Meeks was surprised to see the tax bill for the properties he manages jump more than $38,000.
After he received the tax notice in June 2017, he asked for a meeting with the city’s assessment department and City Manager Jim Toye to review the evaluation. All agreed the reassessed value of the properties was accurate, but it was discovered the assessment team had misclassified the buildings resulting in the large hike.
While the error was resolved, provincial laws require landlords give 12 months notice to tenants before increasing rent. The tax bill corrections were made in August 2017, leaving Meeks unable to increase rent until August of 2018.
But property taxes had actually increased Jan. 1, 2017, resulting in a 20 month period before he is able to recoup the now $64,491 tab.