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Share Dec 17, 2012  |  Vote 0    0  Homes assessed by guessing?
Oshawa This Week  To the editor:  Re: 'Durham homeowners hit by
property assessment' news, durhamregion.com, Dec. 6, 2012.  As a
property owner in Durham Region I was thoroughly disgusted by
the attitude of finance commissioner Jim Clapp. While I believe
in everyone paying their fair share of property tax, it should
not be based on an arbitrarily inflated increase in property
value.  Yes, we have all endured financial hardships with the
weakened economy. However, how will business and shopping
centres benefit by taking $5 million more in taxes from Durham
residents? Many residents are on fixed incomes. When was the
last time your employer or pension plan gave you a 14-per cent
increase?  I would be extremely interested in having someone
explain to me how individuals in that 'Black Box' known as MPAC
come up with an assessed value. I am fed up hearing "it's based
on sales in your area