HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-09-043 - MPAC Data Availability1
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Development &
Technical Services
REPORT
Report To: Finance and Corporate Services Committee
Date of Meeting: Date: March 30, 2009
Submitted By: Jeff Willmer, Interim G.M., Development & Technical Services
Prepared By: Alain Pinard, Interim Director of Planning (519-741-2319)
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: March 17, 2009
Report No.: DTS-09-043
Subject: MPAC DATA AVAILABILITY
RECOMMENDATION:
Whereas the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) now charges
municipalities for data that were previously provided free of charge;
And whereas MPAC did not provide any notification to municipalities that they were
reducing the level of service;
And whereas municipalities rely on MPAC data for many business purposes other than
property tax calculations that include the benchmarking and monitoring of development
performance relative to Places to Grow targets mandated by the Province.
Now therefore be it resolved that:
That MPAC be requested to reverse their decision to charge municipalities for data that
were previously provided free of charge; and
That MPAC reimburse the City of Kitchener for data that it purchased at a cost of $2,520;
and further
That a copy of Council's resolution along with a copy of Report DTS-09-043 regarding
MPAC data availability be forwarded to AMO and to local MPPs.
BACKGROUND:
City of Kitchener staff recently discovered that data that had been provided by MPAC for many
years as part of the assessment information was no longer available and when investigated,
staff were informed that the data could be provided for a fee. Municipalities received no advance
warning of this change in service level. This report recommends a course of action to have
MPAC reconsider their decision to charge for data that were previously provided free of charge
and to reimburse the City of Kitchener for data purchased in 2008.
REPORT:
MPAC refers to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. It is an independent body that
provides municipalities with a range of services, including the preparation of annual assessment
rolls which are used to calculate property taxes. MPAC was founded in 2001. It replaced the
Ontario Property Assessment Corporation that was established on December 31, 1998. Prior to
that, the Ministry of Finance was responsible for property assessment and related services in
Ontario.
Annual assessment rolls contain a wide range of property related data that have various uses
beyond the calculation of property taxes. Municipalities rely on assessment roll information to
monitor development trends and to establish benchmarks before recommending new policies
and regulations. Information related to buildings is particularly useful for calculating densities
and potential build-out scenarios.
City of Kitchener staff recently discovered that information that had been provided by MPAC for
many years was no longer free of charge and would only be provided for a fee. The information
in question is building structure data for commercial, industrial and multi-residential properties.
These data were critical for developing the Kitchener Growth Management Strategy (KGMS)
and will be needed on an ongoing basis in order to monitor development performance related to
the Province's Places to Grow Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Despite our best efforts Kitchener staff have been unable to convince MPAC to reverse their
decision, and in order to meet deadlines for the KGMS the City purchased data at a cost of
$2,520. MPAC staff did provide the explanation that the change is due to a new operating
system (IPS replaced OASYS). However, this does not change the fact that municipalities now
have to pay for data that were previously free of charge.
The decision of MPAC to charge for data that were previously provided at no cost would appear
to be counterproductive to the Province's Growth Plan and will have an impact on many
municipalities that rely on MPAC data for many business purposes other than property tax
calculations. The MPAC data referred to above is especially important for benchmarking and
monitoring development performance relative to Places to Grow targets mandated by the
Province.
Although staff from other municipalities have expressed similar concerns, Kitchener staff is not
aware of any other municipality passing a council resolution and involving AMO and MPPs in an
attempt to have MPAC reverse its decision. The County of Oxford is contemplating a similar
response to that outlined in this report but have not done so to date.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
If MPAC does not reverse their decision, the City of Kitchener will have to purchase data on an
ongoing basis that were previously provided at no charge.
CONCLUSION:
MPAC's decision to charge for data that were previously free of charge has a significant
financial impact on municipalities. It is recommended that this decision be reversed and that the
City of Kitchener be reimbursed for data purchase in 2008.
Alain Pinard, MA, MCIP, RPP
Interim Director of Planning