Media Advisory - BC Assessment to announce 2016 Property Assessment Details

Date: Morning of Monday, January 4, 2016

Location: Province-wide for British Columbia including all municipalities

VICTORIA, Dec. 30, 2015 /CNW/ -

Media Information and Interviews:

• BC Assessment will issue regional news releases on Monday, January 4, 2016 with highlights of 2016 property assessment changes in local communities.
• All news releases, as well as statistics and general information about the 2016 Assessments, will be posted on bcassessment.ca on January 4 and can be accessed by selecting the Property Information & Trends tab at the top of the page.
• The website will also list the 2016 Top Valued Residential Properties for all of British Columbia as well as by regional breakdown.
• For interviews, starting January 4, contact the designated Assessor or Deputy Assessor media contact listed on the local news release.

Background:

• As B.C.'s trusted, go-to provider of property information, BC Assessment collects, monitors and analyzes property data throughout the year.
• Over two million property owners will receive their 2016 property assessment notice by mail in early January.
• Starting in January, the public can use the free, newly-enhanced e-valueBC search tool at bcassessment.ca to compare their 2016 property assessment to others. The public can also search, check and compare 2016 property assessments for any property within the province.
• The mandate of BC Assessment, a provincial Crown corporation, is to establish and maintain uniform property assessments throughout British Columbia in accordance with the Assessment Act.
• The Act requires that BC Assessment produce annual assessments, listing property information and market values as of July 1 (i.e. 2016 assessments are based on market values as of July 1, 2015).
• BC Assessment's assessment information provides the foundation for local and provincial taxing authorities to raise approximately $7 billion in property taxes each year. This revenue funds the many community services provided by local governments around the province, including the public school system.

SOURCE BC Assessment

Website: www.bcassessment.ca