Calgary group urges flood-affected homeowners to appeal property tax assessments

A small group of Calgary homeowners impacted by the 2013 floods is encouraging others to appeal their property tax assessments, saying they shouldn't have to pay more in taxes until "big" flood mitigation measures are taken.

The group, called "Still Paying for the 2013 Flood," is headed up by local political strategist Stephen Carter. He says homeowners in Calgary haven't yet seen the type of mitigation needed to justify an increase in property taxes.

A dry dam for the Elbow Riveris planned for theSpringbankarea, though it is now undergoing a federal environmental assessment.

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"The talk of building a big dry dam by Springbank is exactly that. Talk isn't actually action," Carter told the Calgary Eyeopener. "Sure, they've done riprap along the Bow and some of the Elbow mitigation has been done but these things aren't going to actually change what happens when you get that kind of 2013 flood."

Carter said life for homeowners in flood-impacted areas hasn't yet returned to normal.

"We want the city to recognize that there is still an ongoing cost to having your house in a flood-affected region," he said.

"We also want MayorNenshi to put on his diplomacy hat and go up and actually start working with the provincial government to get flood mitigation to happen," Carter added. "It was a priority of his, it was something he wanted to get done, and now it's just slid off the table of things he's been talking about."

Throughout the city, the number of people appealing their propertytaxes is up from4,000 people last year to more than4,500.

Carter said if he goes to appeal his property taxes, he'll "very likely" get a significant reduction.

"They know we're paying too much, they're just relying on our inaction."

He said about 100 people in communities such as Bowness and Sunnyside have already committed to appealing their assessments.

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With files from the Calgary Eyeopener