"Whereas the assessment cycle is an essential process for maintaining the fairness and predictability of property taxes in our province; and
Whereas the provincial government has delayed an assessment update again in 2024, and announced its intention to conduct a review of the property assessment and taxation system, that will focus on fairness, affordability, and business competitiveness, therefore further deferring new property assessments resulting in Ontario’s municipalities continuing to calculate property taxes using 2016 property values; and
Whereas the pause in the reassessment cycle has created uncertainty and instability in property taxation, impacting both residential and commercial property owners;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved That the Finance and Audit Committee, having considered correspondence from the Municipality of Mattawan regarding 'Promptly Resume Property Assessment Cycle', recommend that County Council support this correspondence; and
Further That the Committee recommend that County Council direct staff to send a copy of this resolution to the Honourable Doug Ford (Premier of Ontario), the Honourable Paul Calandra (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing), the Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy (Minister of Finance), the Honourable David Piccini (Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and MPP for Northumberland - Peterborough South), the Association of Municipality of Ontario (AMO), the Rural Ontario Municipalities Association (ROMA), the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), and Northumberland County's seven member municipalities."