Gas Plant Assessment Appeals Resolved

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--Gas Plant Assessment Appeals Resolved

The Nova Scotia government and the Sable gas project partners have resolved their dispute over assessment of the gas plant in Goldboro, Guysborough Co.

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations routinely assesses the market value of residential and commercial properties in Nova Scotia. Municipalities then use this information to determine their residential and commercial property tax rates. The Sable partners had appealed the 1999 to 2003 annual assessments of their Goldboro gas plant.

Since 1999, the Sable project partners and the assessment services division of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations had been attempting to resolve the five separate appeals. The resolution specifies the assessed market value and business occupancy assessment for each of the five years under appeal.

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister Barry Barnet said the resolution of this issue is important for a number of reasons. "Provincial assessment authority over this new industry has been confirmed, and it removes uncertainty over a significant source of revenue for the municipality of Guysborough," the minister said. "It is also significant that an irritant in the development of the gas industry in Nova Scotia has been removed."

Mr. Barnet said the Municipality of the District of Guysborough has agreed to the resolution. "Guysborough's agreement was critical," he said. "We could not have resolved this without the municipality's consent."

The resolution means $7 million in net revenue for the municipality over the five-year period. "The municipality is very pleased that this issue is finally resolved and any uncertainty over municipal taxation removed," said Warden Lloyd Hines. "The resolution of the appeal will allow the council to move forward and prepare a long term financial plan for the municipality."