Residential property assessments up sharply in Nova Scotia
CBC
Residential property assessments are up significantly across Nova Scotia, particularly in municipalities with hot real estate markets.
"It's the largest jump we've seen in quite a long time," said Lloyd MacLeod, the acting director of the Property Valuation Services Corporation, which evaluates properties in the province.
Residential assessments across the province increased by 10.8 per cent overall to $99.6 billion.
In Halifax, the residential assessment roll was up by 13.4 per cent.
The municipal councillor for Cole Harbour said she's heard from a few people who are upset.
"One resident said their assessed value had increased by nearly 100 per cent," said Trish Purdy. "That's a significant increase. That causes fear."
Purdy is letting people know they can appeal their assessments. Assessment appeals have to be made by Feb. 10.
Residential assessments are up by 18.8 per cent in the town of Lunenburg.
"I think it's indicative of a lot of demand for housing in Lunenburg and I hope people take that message away from this," said Mayor Matt Risser.
With a 20.6 per cent hike, Mahone Bay is the only municipality with a higher increase than Lunenburg. But Mahone Bay's increase is due to the construction of a new nursing home, according to assessment officials.
Lockeport (15.94), Stewiacke (13.29), Annapolis Royal (13.03), Kentville (12.08), Wolfville (11.79), Municipality of the District of East Hants (11.2) and Berwick (11.15) were the others above 11 per cent.
Since 2022 property assessments are based on sales done in 2020, and the hot real estate market only began in the last half of the year, officials expect the upward trend to continue.
The province does put a cap on assessments that limits the amount of the increase that can be taxed by municipalities.
The current cap is based on the Nova Scotia consumer price index. The 2022 cap is 5.4 per cent, the highest amount since it's been based on CPI.
P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch is looking for 50 substitute bus drivers, and it'll be recruiting at three job fairs on Saturday, June 8. The job fairs are located at the Atlantic Superstore in Montague, Royalty Crossing in Charlottetown, and the bus parking lot of Three Oaks Senior High in Summerside. All three run from 9 a.m. until noon. Dave Gillis, the director of transportation and risk management for the Public Schools Branch, said the number of substitute drivers they're hiring isn't unusual. "We are always looking for more. Our drivers tend to have an older demographic," he said.