Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Mark Jensen, Director of Community & Development Services
A Strategy to Capture Hidden InvestmentCase Study: City of Timmins, Ontario
September 2015 EDAC Conference
1)City of Timmins Profile
2)Project Overview – Key Components
3)Project Results
4)Concluding Remarks – Lessons Learned
Presentation Overview
Northeastern Ontario regional center
Local population of 45,000 and regional population of 118,000
Huge Geography – 3,185 km² (1,220 mi²)
Predominantly English and Francophone speaking community with an expanding diversity of cultures
A growing Aboriginal youth population
City of Timmins Profile
Natural Resource Based Sector
Economic Base
Economic Diversification in Progress
Economic Base
Impetus for Assessment Review Project
Structures not reflected in the Municipal Assessment Roll
Largely explained by illegal building activity
No building permit issued = no property assessment completed = no property taxes being collected
Project Overview
Municipal Response
2-year contract position (Pilot): “Property Assessment Advisor”
Identify and document illegal structures for assessment and taxation purposes
Project Success based on newly found property taxes > salary of position
Project Overview
Key Project Components
Data Review & Verification
• Municipal Property Assessment Data
• Building Permit Data
• Municipal Geographic Information System (GIS) – Aerial Imagery Layer
• Site Visits
• Resident “Hot Lines”
Project Overview
Comprehensive Database Development
• Identify structures and details for purposes of assessment
Completing Assessments of Buildings
• Directing database to MPAC for assessment purposes
Media
• Promoting merits of project to public
• Voluntary reporting of offenses
Project Overview
Project Results
Project Results
Project Results
Two (2) year Pilot Project huge success
New annual property taxes generated > 4.5 times salary of position
12,386 residential and 1,482 non-residential properties still to review
Concluding Remarks
Contract Position now full-time
Continued Property Reviews
Reviews quarterly MPAC supplementary property assessments
Attends property assessment appeals
Provides Real Estate and Assessment data/advice
Concluding Remarks
Corrects an inequity situation
Everyone should pay fair share of property taxes
Strategy can be readily adopted in other jurisdictions
Low risk – high reward
Data readily available at limited to no cost
Concluding Remarks
An approach to grow revenue for municipal operations
Supports municipal operations, including ED budgets
Captures already existing hidden investment
Concluding Remarks
Resources required to deal with compliance issues
Building Code
Property Standards
Zoning
More significant hidden assessment in “remote areas”
Importance of public awareness & penalties
Concluding Remarks
Be prepared for unintended consequences:
Scenario A – typical case:• Pool constructed on City and Mattagami Region Conservation Authority property• Storage of personal equipment
Scenario B – not so typical case:• Dumping of fill on City property (in floodplain)• Construction of accessory buildings• Storage of personal equipment• Business operating in garage
Concluding Remarks
Scenario C – extreme case: Multiple residential units & accessory structures
Concluding Remarks
Contact Information
Mark Jensen, BA, MPL, MCIP, RPPDirector of Community & Development ServicesCity of [email protected]
Mark Jensen, Director of Community & Development Services
