Assessment Administration Business Plan
Introduction
Property assessment is the foundation of municipal finance. The importance of ensuring the highest quality of assessment services to Beaver County cannot be understated.
The Municipal Government Act requires Appointed Assessors to prepare property assessments annually based on a market value standard. The Municipal Government Act and its accompanying regulations govern property assessment and taxation.
Functions and Characteristics of Assessment and Taxation
An assessment is the taxable value of property in accordance with legislation and regulations. The Provincial Government mandates the assessment of property on a “value based or ad valorem principle”. In an ad valorem tax system, the amount of tax paid depends directly on the market value of a property. Assessment is the process of estimating the value of property for equitable distribution within Beaver County’s total property tax requirement including other requisitions such as education. While many properties are assessed on a market value standard, there exist many other types of properties that are assessed on a regulated value standard mandated by the Provincial Government.
The entire assessment function for all properties is the responsibility of the Appointed Assessor, except for linear property, for which Alberta Municipal Affairs is responsible. This includes pipelines, gas and oil wells, electric power, and telecommunication systems.
Mission
Our mission is to annually complete, within legislated guidelines, a defendable, fair, and equitable market-value based and regulated assessment for all property in Beaver County.
Our goal is to value all real property (residential, commercial, industrial, regulated property as such farmland, machinery and equipment, and railway) to the highest degree of assessment quality assurance levels as prescribed by legislation and to ensure that a fair and equitable assessment base is established for the benefit of all property owners.
Values and Vision
Our core business plan is to achieve the highest degree of success in fulfilling our responsibility. We strive to provide timely and accurate assessment information to all stakeholders. Our property information is collected in a respectful, conscientious, and cost-effective manner with every effort made to ensure accuracy. Our data management system should be well-organized, accessible, and 100% compliant with legislative requirements. We endeavor to provide County Council and the County's Finance Department with accurate and timely assessment information. More importantly, ratepayers deserve a fair and equitable market value or regulated assessment so that the burden of every taxpayer in Beaver County is shared equally. As well, we believe that every taxpayer has a right to assessment information that is accessible and respected and that appeals are handled in a professional and unbiased manner.
Goals and Objectives
Accuracy
Fairness
Accountability
Consistency
Dedication
Integrity and transparency
Cost-effectiveness
Adaptability
Innovation
Constant product improvement
Exploration of new applications