Options out there for homeowners saddled with sky-high property tax bills

SAINT JOHN, N.B. - Having possessions that increase in value aren't usually viewed as a bad thing - unless you're a homeowner in the greater Saint John area.

Local homeowners have been expressing shock and anger over their skyrocketing property tax bills.

Brent Staeben, a spokesperson with Service New Brunswick, explains that the assessed value is merely a reflection of the market.

" Saint John is one of the leading markets in the country, the Canadian Real Estate Association showed an 18.3% average gain in home prices in the year 2009."

Staeben says if homeowners aren't pleased with the assessment, they can contact Service New Brunswick to launch an appeal.

He says roughly 450,000 properties are re-assessed yearly; about 1%, or 5,000 of those appeals, result in a downward adjustment.