Double Take -- by Mark Sproxton

Anyone who has known a home owner in Calgary in the last few years has likely heard them talk about their market-value property assessment. Likely those comments, many directed at assessors, were unflattering as folks were nervous about this assessment technique used to determine how much city residents pay in property taxes.

Given those circumstances, and the fact most people always complain about their taxes, assessors have received much press recently. Their work, however, often isn't directly in the public eye. In fact, the career has a lot more to do with basic numbers and statistical formulas, not the emotionally charged figures dealt with by politicians. This requires some very specific skills.

"The ability to do computer mapping based on GPS (Global Positioning System) is helpful, as is aerial photography," explained Ian McCormack, Executive Director of the Alberta Assessor's Association. "Beyond that, the computer programs keep changing and getting better, but the old standby pencil, tape measure and a clipboard will remain in use for a long time."

Those interested in using any of those different forms of technology may do well to look further at becoming an assessor. With about 30 per cent of the province's 500 registered assessors ready to retire within the next 10 years, McCormack said opportunities will soon abound.

And assessors evaluate more than residential properties too. Shopping centres, industrial plants, even oil and gas pipelines are assigned dollar values by assessors. Many assessors spend about half their time in the office, and the other half in the field conducting assessments. While every assessment made will affect property owners in one way or another, many won't receive daily headlines in newspapers and on newscasts. For more information on educational requirements for this profession, visit the Jump Start section of this magazine.