Testing for Accuracy and Uniformity
We rigorously test the accuracy and uniformity of assessments every year in compliance with the Nova Scotia Assessment Act and standards set by the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO).
We share the results of these tests in our Annual Reports.
Assessment Accuracy
We measure the accuracy of assessments by comparing the assessed value of a sold property to its sale price using the Assessment to Sale Ratio (ASR) calculation.
ASR = Assessed Value / Sale Price
We sort all the ASRs in each municipality from lowest to highest and select the median (middle) value. The Median ASR is used to report the General Level of Assessment (GLA) and shows the accuracy of assessments – how close they are to the actual market value, as demonstrated by sale price.
The IAAO standard for accuracy is a General Level of Assessment (GLA) between 90% and 110%.
The 2022 GLA for each municipality and the Province as a whole falls within that range, indicating that our assessments accurately reflect market value.
Assessment Uniformity
We measure the uniformity of assessments using the Coefficient of Dispersion (COD) calculation. Uniformity reflects the consistency and fairness of assessments within a municipality.
The COD measures how the Assessment to Sale Ratios (ASR's) within a municipality are distributed around the Median ASR or General Level of Assessment (GLA). A lower COD indicates more uniformity or fairness, and a higher COD indicates less uniformity.
The IAAO standard for uniformity is a COD under 20%.
The 2022 COD for each municipality and the Province as a whole falls within that range, indicating that our assessments are uniformly distributed.
