Group Has Cautious Optimism System Will Change
By Robert Thomas
“It was great. It was fabulous,” Kristy Van Slyck said in the foyer entrance of City Hall.
Van Slyck along with Bernie Dombowsky from the group Property Assessment Watchdogs moments earlier had Council unanimously vote 4 - 0 to have the Quality Assurance Division of the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) do a preliminary investigation into how SAMA came up with its valuations.
“I’m really glad the city of Moose Jaw came together like this.”
A preliminary investigation which if it shows problems would likely trigger a Secondary Audit of SAMA's commercial property valuations and assessments from the 2021 reassessment.
Despite the seemingly apparent David versus Goliath victory the group had a tempered response to it when speaking to MJ Independent.
“The recommendation they put forward is not the recommendation I was looking for because the recommendation was to ask SAMA if there was sufficient evidence to go ahead with that secondary audit. Where there is sufficient evidence to go ahead with one,” she said.
“So I believe this investigation will trigger to go forward with that secondary audit.”
Asked how she felt after going through months of hard work to get Council to make the request she was pleased to see the process move forward.
“It’s very exciting. I’m a little hesitant because it (the secondary audit) hasn’t been initiated but I am looking forward to getting the change,” Van Slyck said.
Asked if she had heard of any municipality in Saskatchewan request a preliminary investigation she said this is the first time the process has ever been initiated in Saskatchewan.
“It is a precedent setting meeting today.”
Asked if she thought the group would have to come back to continue the fight she believed that wouldn’t happen.
“Well I better not be coming back because if I have to I will. However like (Councillor) Kim Robinson said in the meeting tonight once that request goes to SAMA they have 30 days to respond.”
Van Slyck said she was pleased with Council's response.
“I was very impressed with Council. They understand what the citizens are looking for and they are also concerned and they also chose to make a change and go forward.”
Asked since SAMA derives the formula or model for assessments that SAMA could simply respond the formula is write so the issue is clocked Van Slyck said that wasn’t possible.
“No because the secondary audit is where they will discover the incorrect data and everything else. SAMA had led you to believe it is not an audit for that but however it is.”
She stated the legislation sets it up that SAMA has to follow the proper model and use certain data and certain information.
Asked if her research ever showed why Moose Jaw has 17 classes and related subclasses for commercial property assessment Van Slyck said she had “no idea” why.
“There is no reason for it.”
Despite making what seems like a major step to fixing what they perceive as wrong with commercial property assessments Bernie Dombowsky told MJ Independent he doesn’t have much faith in the process.
“Well it seems like the fox is guarding the hen house here,” Dombowsky said.
“Everything is a time delay and I think they will delay it until the business owners pay another year of these exorbitant taxes,” he said.
Asked if he had noticed any change on how he has been treated by Council from the beginning until now he said he hadn’t. In fact that idea was 100 percent wrong.
“The Council has always treated me exceptionally well. And they have returned calls (always). Administration less so but Council though they have always been supportive,” Dumbowsky said.
He said he was appreciative for the community support he and the group has received.
“The number of views on the YouTube video also speaks volumes. There are over 8,000 views on that YouTube video so people in Moose Jaw are concerned.”
Asked if the support is one certain group Dombowsky said the support was spread out.
“It is people from every demographic. A lot of seniors that I see at A and W they are concerned. They’re outraged. They’re dismayed. They don’t have confidence in the system to do the right thing.”
Dombowsky said despite what looks like a win in the process to rectify the group's concerns he still does not trust the system.
Asked if ever thought his simply appealing his property tax assessment would grow into what has become a major issue in Moose Jaw he said he hadn’t.
“I thought it was so obvious that the appeal would be a common sense thing a day be corrected,” he said, adding “the whole process is so wrong. Really the only option is to liquidate and move on to another location.”
Asked if he felt vindicated with Council’s vote and the potential secondary audit Dombowsky said he didn’t trust the system due to the lack of an independent review.
“I don’t have a lot of faith in the way forward that anything good will come out of SAMA checking out themselves…it has to be independent. When the cops check on the cops…when you are checking on your friends. They are in the same building and they coffee together…”
Asked about his reaction to comments by Councillor Heather Eby during Council's discussion that SAMA's model seems to lack common sense he said the group had already expressed this to SAMA with no sign of change.
“We have had that conversation with SAMA and they are standing firm that there rate cap model is correct. They are not changing. They are not changing.”
“I don’t have any faith that they will check on themselves enough to say they made a mistake and provide changes, Dumbowsky said.
He was thankful for the support the community has given his cause.
“I appreciate the support of the people. There is no question the people of Moose Jaw are dismayed is too light of a word as to how things are.”
He said having so much public support “makes us assured to continue.”