The Town of Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, hosted a public “Property Assessment Concerns Open House” on January 26, 2026, to help residents understand why their property values have changed and how to fix errors before tax bills are finalized. The open house allowed homeowners to speak directly with town staff and assessors about their recent assessment notices and the steps required to challenge them.
Homeowners met with staff from the Town of Fort Smith and representatives from the GNWT Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) Property Assessment unit to discuss assessment notices mailed in early January. Officials explained that many properties have higher assessed values because of new construction and rebuilding following the 2023 wildfire season, and because higher replacement and construction costs have been used to value repaired or rebuilt homes.
The session came as residents contend with the combined effects of higher assessments and an earlier municipal tax decision: council approved a 6.5 per cent property tax increase for the 2025 taxation year (reported by Cabin Radio in February 2025). When that increase is considered alongside the higher 2026 assessments, many local households are facing higher potential tax bills for the 2026 taxation year.
At the event, residents were shown how to compare their property values against the Certified Assessment Roll and how to begin a formal appeal to the local Board of Revision. Under MACA rules, appeals must be filed within 45 days of the mailing date of the notice of assessment (for notices mailed in early January this typically means a mid-February deadline) — the last opportunity to correct assessment errors before tax rates/mill rates are finalized for the taxation year.
