A property tax decrease occurs when a property owner's tax bill is lower than the previous year. This can happen for several reasons: the property's assessed value may have decreased due to market conditions or a successful assessment appeal; the municipality may have lowered tax rates; or provincial education tax rates may have been reduced. Sometimes assessment decreases are offset by rate increases, resulting in similar taxes despite lower values. Property tax decreases are relatively uncommon since municipal costs generally increase over time. Tax relief programs for seniors or low-income residents may also reduce individual tax bills.