MOOSE JAW — A Downtown property — subject of a high-profile lawsuit — has once again seen a property tax assessment drop after being taken over by the City of Moose Jaw for non-payment of property taxes.
According to documents obtained by MJ Independent through the Freedom of Information Act the property’s assessed value - located at 134 Manitoba Street West - fell from a high of $1.724 million in 2017 (when privately owned) to the present commercial assessment of $485,000 (after the City acquired the property for through a tax title action).
Former property owner Vernon “Vern” Anderson was unavailable for comment but in a report by the website moosejawtoday.com Anderson said he was willing to pay his fair share of taxes but only after a fair property assessment was issued.
Anderson continued his fight against City Hall and after a mistake by a clerk - who allowed Anderson to pay his back taxes - the case moved to the Courts to decide ownership. The City ultimately won the decision.
At the present time Anderson is appealing the decision.
The major drop in assessment from 2020 to 2021
The assessment documents, nor do other documents obtained by MJ Independent, give any reason or indicate why what could be described as “wild fluctuation” in assessment values for the property occurred.
The assessment was prepared by the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA).
In the latest assessment the assessed value has once again fallen from $627,300 in 2024 to $485,000 while ownership of the property is tied to the City.
The latest Notice of Assessment was sent to the City of Moose Jaw - who are the present registered owners.
