According to a news release from the City of Prince Albert, a tax assessment appeal process from 2017 sided with the big box stores, meaning the City has to pay back $652,000 in total to Walmart, JYSK Canada, Candian Tire, Sport Check and Marks Work Wearhouse.

The court case moved through the Board of Revision, Sask Municipal Board and the Court of Appeal, with the companies successfully challenging how the Cost Approach appraisal method for commercial property assessments is applied in this province. Mayor Greg Dionne says, “The assessment system is set up to allow for property owners to appeal and it’s their right to go through the process.” He considers it incredibly disappointing, and says they are some of the most profitable in Prince Albert and the result of the appeal is that their customers who support them will need to pay more.

The city says the property tax bylaw for this classification of commercial properties was adjusted in 2020, and these tools will be considered in future years. A report from Administration to be presented to Prince Albert’s City Council recommends the combined appeal impact from these appeal and other outstanding commercial appeals totaling almost $830,000 since 2017 be funded from fiscal stabilization.