BILL NO. 99

(as introduced)

2nd Session, 58th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
50 Elizabeth II, 2001

Private Member's Bill

Assessment Act (amended)

Bill Estabrooks
Timberlea-Prospect

First Reading: November 19, 2001

(Explanatory Note)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

This Bill fixes the assessed value of certain properties at the value appearing on the assessment roll for the year 2001 and requires the appointment of a select committee to receive public comments on the assessing of properties owned by residents of the Province.

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Section 42 of Chapter 23 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Assessment Act, is amended by adding immediately after subsection (3) the following subsections:

(3A) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), the assessed value of a property the market value of which is influenced by frontage on the ocean, a lake, a river or another body of water or by a view of the ocean, a lake, a river or another body of water and that is assessed in the name of a person who permanently resides in the Province shall be fixed for the year 2002-03 at the assessed value that appeared on the assessment roll for the year 2001-02 and shall not be increased for the year 2002-03 unless

(a) the market value of the property has increased due to improvements made to the property by the person to whom it is assessed; or

(b) the property is sold after April 1, 2001.

2 The House of Assembly shall appoint a select committee to review the question of assessment at market value as it relates to properties owned by residents of the Province.

3 The committee appointed pursuant to Section 2 shall

(a) seek public input from all regions of the Province;

(b) make recommendations to protect residents of the Province from rapidly increasing property assessments due to changing market conditions; and

(c) report to the House of Assembly within six months of the coming into force of this Act.

4 This Act has effect on and after December 1, 2001.