InteriorNEWS THE
106th Year - Week 2 PM 40007014
STEELHEADS SLIP Steelheads suffer first loss in more than two years.
SPORTS/A9
SMITHERS, B.C.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
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Regional assessments on the rise Increase mirrors real-estate values
By Percy N. Hebert and Ryan Jensen Smithers/Interior News
BIRD COUNT It was another busy Christmas Bird Count.
COMMUNITY/A13
STEPPING OUT DeHoog ready to show world her brushstrokes.
OUR TOWN/A14
INSIDE LETTERS A7 SPORTS A9 COMMUNITY A13 OUR TOWN A14 THREE RIVERS B1 CLASSIFIEDS B4
Property owners throughout the Bulkley Valley will be receiving their 2013 assessment notices in the coming days. In the last year, there has been a slight increase in property values in the area, said Christopher Whyte, deputy assessor with BC Assessment. “Most homes in the area are remaining stable in value compared to last year’s assessment roll,” Whyte said. “Most homeowners in Smithers, Telkwa and the Hazletons will see modest changes in the zero to five per cent range.” In total, the assessment rolls for Smithers, Telkwa and the Hazeltons increased from $905 million last year to $911 million this year. The average price of a single family home in Smithers increased just over $1,000 from last year whereas the year prior, the jump was about $15,000. But Smithers taxpayers are not necessarily looking at an increase in property taxes because of the higher assessments, Mayor Taylor Bachrach said. “We don’t tax based on increased assessments, it’s more about the relative value of the properties. “I don’t see the assessed values having a significant direct impact [on taxes]. “The bigger challenge that we are facing is the increasing cost of delivering services.” Remax Bulkely Valley managing broker Peter Lund said the market value of properties in the area has also been rising, but at a greater pace than the assessments. “The Smithers area has a lot of resourcebased exploration and development which is pushing up the prices. “We really have a shortage of rental units in town which equates directly to increases in property values,” Lund said “There’s a limited supply when things do become available and the demand seems to always be there.” See ROLL on p. A3
IDLE NO MORE About 30 people gathered at the Chevron gas station on Highway 16 as part of the Idle No More movement. Members of the Unis’tot’en and their supporters chose the location to highlight the recent investment by Chevron in the Pacific Trails Pipeline project proposed to carry natural gas from northereastern B.C. to a LNG plant in Kitimat. Percy N. Hébert photo
Oceans Tuna see page A-16
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