English stories
80 meet with Evimbec evaluators
le vendredi 06 mars 2020
Modifié à 14 h 03 min le 03 mars 2020
Eighty citizens answered the City of Chateauguay’s invitation to discuss the evaluation of their property with experts from the Evimbec firm.
Translation Dan Rosenburg
Five evaluators from the entreprise met the owners during a day scheduled for that purpose on Saturday, February 22 in building at Laberge Park.
The municipality held this meeting at its expense following numerous questions from citizens regarding the increase in value of their property inscribed on the new roll that came into force in 2020. ‘’We did it to give service to the population,’’ Mayor Pierre-Paul Routhier indicated to Le Soleil following the event.
[caption id="attachment_37818" align="alignleft" width="170"]
Pierre-Paul Routhier, maire de Châteauguay.[/caption]
‘’The exercise regarding the evaluation was well done. I am satisfied with Evimbec’s responses concerning the methods used,’’ the Mayor assured.
The evaluators notably ‘’looked at the comparables and the costs of reconstruction,’’ Routhier noted. The analysis is being done at a distance. ‘’Visiting each residence would cost a fortune,’’ the Mayor affirmed. The Evimbec contract is for $3.9 million for four years,’’ he specified.
Routhier said that Evimbec had proposed five corrections at the site and maintained its position concerning eight properties. The citizens who still believe that their evaluation is not adequate have until April 30 to request a revision. The procedure figures on their tax bill.
To be re-seen
The new Chateauguay evaluation roll presents variable increases of the value of the properties and also decreases. Some citizens asked the Mayor why the City was not adopting different property tax rates to avoid deviations in the tax bills from one house to another. ‘’We cannot have different tax rates,’’ Routhier replied. ‘’There is a legal obstacle to that.’’
In his opinion, the property tax formula is not ideal. ‘’Currently, the cities are financed especially by the wealth of the property. That must be looked at again. That creates enormous disparities. I would prefer other solutions,’’ he asserted.
The Mayor also has the City’s budget in his sights. ‘’Chateauguay must take another look at all of the expenses,’’ he noted.
Pierre-Paul Routhier, maire de Châteauguay.[/caption]
‘’The exercise regarding the evaluation was well done. I am satisfied with Evimbec’s responses concerning the methods used,’’ the Mayor assured.
The evaluators notably ‘’looked at the comparables and the costs of reconstruction,’’ Routhier noted. The analysis is being done at a distance. ‘’Visiting each residence would cost a fortune,’’ the Mayor affirmed. The Evimbec contract is for $3.9 million for four years,’’ he specified.
Routhier said that Evimbec had proposed five corrections at the site and maintained its position concerning eight properties. The citizens who still believe that their evaluation is not adequate have until April 30 to request a revision. The procedure figures on their tax bill.
To be re-seen
The new Chateauguay evaluation roll presents variable increases of the value of the properties and also decreases. Some citizens asked the Mayor why the City was not adopting different property tax rates to avoid deviations in the tax bills from one house to another. ‘’We cannot have different tax rates,’’ Routhier replied. ‘’There is a legal obstacle to that.’’
In his opinion, the property tax formula is not ideal. ‘’Currently, the cities are financed especially by the wealth of the property. That must be looked at again. That creates enormous disparities. I would prefer other solutions,’’ he asserted.
The Mayor also has the City’s budget in his sights. ‘’Chateauguay must take another look at all of the expenses,’’ he noted.