NEWS 3
Former bookkeeper found guilty
ENTERTAINMENT 11
SPORTS 27
VSO returns to Burnaby
5
Steelers’ offence stalls
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND FRIDAY DECEMBER 9, 2016
SEE PAGE 21
There’s more at Burnabynow.com
LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS
KIDS COUNT BIRDS
CHILDREN, TAKE NOTE It was nothing but sunny skies during the annual Christmas bird count for kids held Sunday, Dec. 4 at Burnaby Lake. The free workshop taught children basic skills like identification, using binoculars and field guides, and how to report findings. Above, Melissa Holloway helps Ray Shimomura, 7, during the bird count. At right, seven-year-old Iako Adebo strolls through a flock of pigeons with a pair of binoculars. PHOTOS JENNIFER GAUTHIER
REAL ESTATE VALUES
Property assessments jump – again A typical single-family home in Burnaby will see an increase of 30 to 50 per cent over last year By Jeremy Deutsch
jdeutsch@burnabynow.com
For the second straight year, there will be shock when people open their property assessments for 2017 in the new year. This week, B.C. Assessment released a preliminary analysis of the 2017 numbers which indicate a significant increase over last year’s
property values. In parts of Metro Vancouver including Burnaby, the typical single-family home will see an increase of 30 to 50 per cent over 2016’s assessment, while the typical strata residential unit increases will be in the 15 to 30 per cent range. B.C. Assessment also noted commercial and industrial properties throughout
the Greater Vancouver area will also see significant increases in the 10 to 30 per cent range, with properties being purchased for eventual redevelopment often exceeding these ranges. If this sounds like déjà vu, it’s because it is. Around this time last year, B.C. Assessment sent out notices to thousands of homeowners warning them
of a dramatic increase on their assessment. Last year the number was between 15 and 25 per cent. Some homeowners saw increases of more than 30 per cent. A bigger number on the assessment can pose a couple potential problems for homeowners: increased property taxes and the potential to lose the homeowner grant.
For property taxes, B.C. Assessment suggests not to panic. “It is important to understand that large increases in property assessments do not automatically translate into a corresponding increase in property taxes,” said assessor Jason Grant in a statement. “Your taxes are actually affected by your assessment changes compared
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to the average change in your community.” As for the homeowner grant, it’s unclear how many homeowners will be affected by the increase. Last year, the eligibility threshold for the grant was $1.2 million, and 91 per cent of homes in the province fell below this threshold. In Burnaby, 78 per cent Continued on page 8
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