InTouch - November 2019
2020 municipal levy increase announced
The MPAC Board of Directors recently approved our 2020 budget, including a province-wide municipal levy increase of 1.9% for services required by Ontario municipalities in 2020. The increase is lower than past years and reflects the amounts required to fund contractual obligations and maintain service levels.

In addition to drawing on reserves, MPAC reduced administration costs, imposed a freeze on executive salaries and negotiated a contractual agreement to deliver a responsible budget that respects the financial realities faced by Ontario municipalities.

More information including municipal-specific levy changes will be provided in the coming weeks, with final funding letters arriving in January.
Over 800,000 Property Assessment Notices mailed
From November 11–21, MPAC mailed out over 800,000 Property Assessment Notices to property owners across Ontario. The notices reflect changes in assessment that have taken place over the last year. More information is available here .
Listening to your municipality’s needs
In support of our commitment to strong relationships with our municipal partners, on October 24 we held our regular Municipal Liaison Group meeting at our head office in Pickering.

We provided an overview of how we plan to support municipalities during the 2020 Assessment Update through our relationships with municipal staff and by providing a range of communication supports before Property Assessment Notices (PANs) are mailed next year.

“We want to ensure both municipalities and property owners understand our role in the property assessment and taxation system, how we value properties, what to expect before PANs are mailed and where to go for more information and support,” said Chris Rickett, Director, Municipal & Stakeholder Relations.

The meeting also included an interactive discussion about future enhancements to Municipal Connect and an update about current appeal proceedings, including some recent benchmark decisions.

The Municipal Liaison Group is designed to bring together diverse municipal representatives from across Ontario to discuss a broad spectrum of issues and interests. The group meets several times a year, and the feedback we receive helps inform changes and improvements to our products and service delivery.
Upcoming webinar: Assessment Change Engagement Strategy
As we prepare for the 2020 Assessment Update, learn more about MPAC’s Assessment Change Engagement Strategy, which is designed to identify specific properties, neighbourhoods and sectors that are experiencing changes, and how MPAC will support municipalities in planning for these changes.
Date: Wednesday, December 4
Time: 1 to 2 p.m.
In case you missed it:
Our last webinar on November 6 focused on how MPAC assesses and classifies cannabis properties. You can view the recording here . 
Municipal Connect update
MPAC continues to make updates to Municipal Connect. As the primary source of assessment-related information for Ontario municipalities, these changes support our continued commitment to enhancing your user experience and protecting Ontario property owners’ data.

  • Municipal Sales Listings: In September, we rolled out enhancements to the Municipal Sales Listings to make temporary roll numbers attached to severances and consolidations more easily identifiable.

  • Monthly People Portal data refresh: Beginning November 2019, data on the People Portal will be refreshed monthly instead of the current bi-weekly refresh. This change is being made to streamline our operations while continuing to meet stakeholders’ business needs.

  • New password reset: In January 2020, we will implement a new password reset function in Municipal Connect to add an additional layer of security. This change is intended to address cyber security risks and protect our data, while helping to mitigate the risk of high profile attacks within the municipal community.

To learn more about these updates, visit Municipal Connect or contact your Account Manager on the MPAC Municipal and Stakeholder Relations team.