Councillors here will get a chance to learn more about MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) next month.
Discussion began early on at the July 18 meeting as councillor Wayne Stokley questioned the impact of Wellington County’s 2012 supplementary weighted assessment update.
Stokley said that in looking through the information and the 0.83 per cent growth for Puslinch in the past year, but a 1.29 per cent weighted assessment. “We seem to have be higher than most municipalities. How will this affect our township down the line.
Mayor Dennis Lever clarified this is a report from MPAC.
The information and the supplementary information is sent to the township which bills accordingly.
“Puslinch is fortunate because we are growing. Having said that, it is a common concern among all municipalities, that MPAC is a long way behind catching up on these assessments.”
He noted someone from MPAC plans to make a presentation to council in September.
Matt Stubbs, Municipal Relations Representative (Acting, Wellington, Dufferin and City of Guelph, recently wrote to the municipality asking to make a presentation on what MPAC does and an update on the upcoming reassessment.
Stubbs added “Seeing as notices will be issued this September, it may be good for MPAC to provide some information beforehand.”
He also wanted to know if council preferred a “10-15 minute presentation or more thorough 45-minute presentation?
The response from clerk Brenda Law was that council felt the longer presentation might be the best.
Lever noted one troubling aspect of the county report was the number of applications by aggregate operations appealing very large increases in assessments since 2008.
He said as the minutes of settlement arrive at the municipality and the appeals are successful, the township may find itself in the position of having to refund some of that money.
“We are hoping there will not be too much of an impact to ratepayers,” Lever said.
He noted the MPAC meeting is set for Sept. 5. Questions about the supplementary assessments could be posed at that time.
