Skip to content

New buildings giveth, assessment appeals taketh away

New buildings are raking in tax dollars for the city, with total growth of assessment hitting a $230,000 increase between 2004 and 2005.
New buildings are raking in tax dollars for the city, with total growth of assessment hitting a $230,000 increase between 2004 and 2005.

“Total growth is higher then we’ve seen in a number of years,” Brian Rogers, director of financial services for North Bay, said at Thursday night’s budget meeting.

Rogers explained that “new dwellings” accounted for the majority of the growth.

New buildings in total have grown by 0.82 percent, and new subdivisions grew 0.55 percent.

However, assessment appeals have also risen 0.49 percent.
In fact appeals reduced the assessment dollar growth from $800,000 to $230,000.

“The North Bay mall accounts for one-third of it,” Rogers explained.

There are currently 131 outstanding appeals.

Rogers explained that they will be budgeting $550,000 dollars for appeals next year. No surplus from the increased budget will go into reserve.

Tax Levy
So far the tax levy is sitting at a 7.1 percent increase; the city has already shaved off closed to two per cent, or $2 million.

It isn’t the final one at this time,” budget chief Peter Chirico said, adding the city portion of that increase is 3.97 per cent.

The final amount for the tax levy will not be available until the city’s agencies, boards and commissions present their budgets next Thursday. The amount the city receives from the province’s Community Reinvestment Fund will also affect the tax levy.

Industrial Tax Ratios
In a municipal study, North Bay was ranked second lowest for industrial tax ratios. At 1.4 percent the city follows York with 1.37 percent taxation.

North Bay will be looking into taking first place from York, to help attract new business.

“Let’s be number one in something,” Coun. Judy Koziol said.

Chirico explained that North Bay shouldn’t just be “keeping up with the Jones.”

The city, Mayor Vic Fedeli said “should be the Jones.”