Assessment & Taxation

Assessment & Taxation

Property Assessment

Property Assessment is conducted by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, (MPAC). There are several property assessment classes such as residential, farm, multi-residential, commercial, and industrial. Assessment is based on current value, meaning, assessment is determined based on sale prices of properties of comparable value. Changes to your assessment may occur if you make an addition or improvement to your property or if you have received a reduction in your assessed value through MPAC's Assessment Review Board (ARB) or Request for Reconsideration (RfR).

For assessment/tax reductions due to demolition, class change, etc. please complete and submit a "Section 357 Application" to the Tax Collector.  The application is available for downloading on the right side of this page.

If you have questions regarding your assessment or wish to contact MPAC, please call 1-866-296-6722 or visit www.mpac.ca. For your convenience, a link to the 2011 Request for Reconsideration form is provided on the right hand side of this page.

Municipal and Education Taxation

Tax Rates are applied to your property assessment to calculate the total taxes each year.

The residential tax rate for 2011 is 0.00990932.

Download the 2011 Tax Rates on the right hand side for more information.

Tax Billing and Due Dates

There are two tax billings each year with two installments each.

The Interim Bill is sent out in early March. It is based on 50% of the prior year's taxes.

Interim Due Dates: March 25, 2011 and May 25, 2011

The Final Tax Bills are sent out in early August. They include total taxes and special charges for the year and deduct the interim amount.

Final Due Dates: August 26, 2011 and October 26, 2011

If there have been changes to your property assessment due to new construction in the year or the previous two years, you will receive a Supplementary Tax Notice based on the supplementary or omitted assessment. The Supplementary Due Date(s) for these bills will be at least 21 days after the date of the notice.

Residential Property Tax Calculator 2011

The following tax calculator will help you determine the amount of your taxes annually. Please use the value of your home as determined by MPAC for the calculator. If you require assistance in determining the MPAC value of your home please contact MPAC or Town Hall.

Disclaimer

The Tax Calculator application uses The Blue Mountains Council approved residential local tax rates, residential tax rates for the County of Grey and residential tax rates established by the Province of Ontario for education purposes for the year 2011.

The amounts shown on Tax Calculator are estimates only. Final tax amounts are mailed out annually in early August and may vary from the amounts illustrated in the Tax Calculator. Due to the various tax rates in The Blue Mountains, the complexity of tax calculations, tax policy and provincial legislation, the Tax Calculator does not include the following:

  • Local Improvements and associated administrative fees
  • Special area rated services.
  • Any adjustments to taxes such as ARB decisions, Section 357 tax or class adjustments, Minutes of Settlement, or Supplementary Taxes.

The Blue Mountains cannot be held responsible for any legal liabilities arising from the use of the Tax Calculator as it is an estimator only.

Tax Payment Options

Taxes and utilities can be paid:

  • in person at Town Hall, 32 Mill Street, Thornbury, N0H 2P0, using cheque, cash or debit card as payment method types. There is a drop box for payment by cheque after office hours
  • by mail using a cheque. Please mail your cheque to Town Hall early enough to be received before the deadline. Cheques may be post -dated to ensure timely payment processing
  • in person, on-line or by phone through your financial institution. Please contact your financial institution for availability of this service.  The Town payee name is "Blue Mountains, Town Tax".
  • pre-authorized payment - The Town is pleased to offer pre-authorized payment options for ratepayers. Please complete the Tax Pre-Authorized Form found on the right hand side of this page and mail or fax it to the Town office along with a void cheque.

If you've sold your property or changed locations, you or your financial institution must contact us to update the account information or remove the pre-authorization, otherwise you might pay the new owners taxes!

Penalty and Interest

Penalty in the amount of 1 1/4 per cent of the amount of unpaid taxes will be charged for the non-payment of taxes on the first day of the month following the due date. Further interest charges in the amount of 1 1/4 per cent of unpaid taxes will be charged on the first day of each and every month thereafter.

Water and Wastewater Rates and Billing

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section on the right-hand side of the page for questions and answers regarding your water and wastewater bill.

Download the 2011 Water and Wastewater Rates on the right-hand side of the page.

To set up your Water and Wastewater bill for pre-authorized payment, please complete and return the Utility Pre-Authorized Form on the right-hand side of the page, along with a void cheque.

User Fees and Charges

For information on Town User Fees and Charges, download a copy of the Fees and Charges By-Law 2008-113 on the right- hand side of the page.