Assessment notices have been mailed to about half a million property and business owners, signalling the start of the customer review period.

The 2014 property assessment roll has a total value of $276 billion, and the business assessment roll sees a total value of $3.15 billion.

Typical single residential properties are being assessed at $430,000 compared to $410,000 in 2013 and the typical residential condominium is assessed at $260,000, compared to $250,000 in 2013.

It is going to prove difficult for city council to move away from the annual five per cent property tax increases in its next multi-year budget.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi and councillors will be setting tax rates and service level increases for the next four years in summer and fall 2014. The city's projections show that the fiveper cent tax increases will be needed in 2015 and 2016 to keep up with their costs.