Town of Sedgewick, Alberta, Canada

Property Assessments within the Town of Sedgewick are contracted to Wainwright Assessment Group.
The Assessor is legislated to perform his duties BY THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA through the Municipal Government Act and MUST prepare an assessment on every property within the municipality each year.
Each Year, the Assessor will inspect certain properties within the municipality. If you built or renovated your house or building, the assessor will attend your property at some time during the year to make his assessment. He is not required to make an appointment and will leave notification that he was at your property if you were not at home during his visit.

WHAT IS A PROPERTY ASSESSMENT? Assessment Graphic

- Property assessment is the estimated market value of your property, which is then used to calculate property taxes. The assessed value of your property is as of July 1 of the prior year (that is - 2010 assessment reflects July 1 2009 market values)

WHAT IS MARKET VALUE? - Market value is the most probable price that a property might be expected to realize if it is sold on the open market by a willing seller to a willing buyer. Assessors do not create your property value, nor does your town council.
The marketplace determines the value of your property, and that value is the basis for property assessment. In determining property assessments, assessors use sales records of similar properties to determine values. An excellent way for property owners to look at property values in Sedgewick is to review the real estate section of the paper and talk to your local real estate agents. People are surprised every year when receiving their assessment and tax notices by the change in assessed values until they look at real estate listings and speak with their local realtors. There may be local obsolescence placed on your property by the assessor that may change the relationship between your assessment and the current market value.

WHY IS SEDGEWICK USING MARKET VALUE ASSESSMENT? - It is agreed throughout North America that market value assessment is the most fair and equitable way to assess a properties value. It ensures that homes with similar market values within the same neighbourhood and within the same city will pay similar property taxes.
Alberta was one of the last jurisdictions in North America to switch to market value assessment. The old assessment methods worked on an eight-year cycle and sometimes lead to dramatic swings in property tax values. Market value assessment uses annual reassessments to minimize fluctuations.

HOW OFTEN ARE ASSESSMENTS COMPLETED? - Provincial legislation requires all municipalities to annually prepare a new assessment or valuation for all properties located in the Town at market value utilizing mass appraisal techniques.

WHAT IS MASS APPRAISAL? - Mass appraisal is the process of preparing assessments for a group of properties using standard methods and common data and allowing for statistical testing.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I DISAGREE WITH MY ASSESSMENT? - If you disagree with the assessment of your property, contact the Town of Sedgewick at 780 384 3504. If the Town is unable to answer your questions, you will be directed to speak with our contracted assessor at 780 842 5002. If after meeting with the assessor you still do not agree with your assessment, you may file an appeal against your assessment. click here for an assessment appeal form

The assessment appeal deadline will be indicated on the front of the assessment and tax notices.