In response to the ‘Assessments out of whack’ letter published Aug. 31, please allow me to clarify some key points.
BC Assessment’s consolidation of its Penticton office with its Kelowna office provides greater efficiencies in how we value Okanagan properties.
The consolidation in 2010 resulted in no loss of employment, with previous Penticton-based staff continuing to perform their exact same high standard of local assessments.
In Penticton, BC Assessment sets property values based on comparisons of actual real estate market activity in the community. BC Assessment operates completely independent of taxing authorities which are solely responsible for setting property tax rates.
Property owners are welcome to contact our appraisal staff for detailed explanations of assessments and to discuss how we determine property values. We are also available to meet Penticton residents in Penticton if they are unable to visit our Kelowna office.
Any property owners who are not satisfied with decisions of the local assessment office are welcome to submit a formal appeal by Jan. 31 to the independent Property Assessment Review Panel.
Mark Wooldridge, Assessor
Okanagan Region, BC Assessment