Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity - New website from MPAC to help property taxpayers confirm their assessment will be officially launched at Toronto City Hall

TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2012 /CNW/ -

WHAT:	A new website - AboutMyProperty™ - that makes it faster and easier for Ontario property taxpayers to confirm the accuracy of their assessment will be officially launched by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). Property owners can conduct detailed searches to find information on their own property and other properties in their neighbourhood or community. They can then compare them with their own assessment to determine if they are accurate. The official launch of AboutMyProperty™ (www.aboutmyproperty.ca) coincides with the mailing of Property Assessment Notices, which are now in the mail for Toronto area property owners.
VISUALS:	Live demonstrations of AboutMyProperty™ to interested property taxpayers Exhibit displays
INTERVIEWS:	The following spokespeople will be onsite and available for interviews: Antoni Wisniowski, MPAC President and Chief Administrative Officer Larry Hummel, MPAC Chief Assessor Joe Regina, MPAC Account Manager, Municipal Relations (Toronto)
WHEN:	Tuesday, October 30 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
WHERE:	Lobby, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West Toronto

About MPAC
MPAC (www.mpac.ca, www.aboutmyproperty.ca) is a not-for-profit corporation funded by all Ontario municipalities.  MPAC is responsible for administering a uniform, province-wide property assessment system based on current values.  It provides a range of services, including the preparation of annual assessment rolls for use by municipalities and the Province of Ontario to calculate property taxes and education taxes.  Municipal enumerations are also conducted by MPAC in order to prepare a Preliminary List of Electors for each municipality and school board during an election year.

The last province-wide Assessment Update of Ontario properties took place in 2008 and was based on the legislated valuation date of January 1, 2008.  This fall's province-wide Assessment Update of Ontario's nearly five million properties is based on the legislated valuation date of January 1, 2012.  Eligible assessment increases will be phased in over four years (2013-2016).  All assessment decreases are applied immediately. This year's Assessment Update will be the second in Ontario's new four-year assessment and phase-in cycle.

MPAC has 33 local offices located across Ontario.  Its head office is located in Pickering.

SOURCE: Municipal Property Assessment Corporation

Cathy Ranieri Sweenie
[phone]
[email protected]

Lindsay Finneran-Gingras
[phone] ext. 8225
[email protected]