File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Property Tax Implications

BC Assessment scraps proposed change to pipeline valuations: TNRD

Dec 17, 2025 | 5:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) says a change in the assessment of pipelines that could have shifted a huge burden to residential taxpayers is not going through.

In a news release issued late Wednesday (Dec. 17), the TNRD says BC Assessment has informed the district it will not proceed with changes to the valuation of ‘Gathering and Transmission Pipelines’ in 2026.

The provincial assessment authority informed local governments of the proposed assessment change in September. According to the TNRD, the change would have decreased the tax values of pipelines such as Trans Mountain by 23-to-30 per cent next year.

Earlier this month, TNRD staff told the board the new assessed values would blow a $1.3-million hole in the district’s 2026 budget, forcing it to turn to residential property owners to make up the difference. The board responded by writing a letter of protest to the provincial government.

Now, Board Chair Barbara Roden says instead of a major decrease, BC Assessment has notified the TNRD pipelines within the district will see a 7 per cent increase in their assessed values.

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“The announcement that the regulated rates valuation model for pipelines will not change for the upcoming 2026 Assessment Roll Year is very good news for the many regional districts and municipalities that were dealing with the impacts of the proposed changes,” said Roden in the release. “It’s especially good news for other property classes – particularly residential and business – which would have had to shoulder the burden of the proposed changes.”