Functional Responsibility:
The board's original purpose was to provide a mechanism for the equalization of the property-tax burden throughout Alberta. Through the enabling legislation, the board was empowered to examine the overall incidence of property taxation on a community basis and throughout the province. Municipal Affairs collected the supplementary tax that was used to reimburse the local authorities to create an equal amount of financial resources in the communities. The Assessment Adjustment Act (S.A. 1922, c. 14) expanded the powers of the Alberta Assessment Equalization Board by empowering the board to function as an appellate body with respect to assessment and tax recovery.

Later, when the enabling legislation had become the Municipalities Assessment and Equalization Act (S.A. 1957, c. 61), the function of the board was to establish equalized assessments for municipalities to determine contributions to the School Foundation Fund. The board also apportioned equalized assessments of municipalities among school divisions, school districts, and hospital districts, in order that such levels of government may requisition contributing municipalities for additional revenues required over the contributions received from Alberta Education and the Alberta Hospitals Benefits Plan.

Predecessor and Successor Bodies:
The Supplementary Revenue Act (S.A. 1918, c. 6) established the post of Supplementary Revenue Tax Commissioner, who was empowered to reduce rates for rural land units. The Assessment Standards and Equalization Branch assumed the duties of the Alberta Assessment Equalization Board in 1995.

Administrative Relationships:
The Lieutenant Governor in Council appointed members of the Alberta Assessment Equalization Board. The board reported to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Administrative Structure:
In the early years, the board had no more than three members. By 1990, the board consisted of a chair, a vice-chair, and three members representing Alberta Education, Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, and Alberta Urban Municipalities Association.

Name of the corporate body:
Alberta Assessment Equalization Board

Names of Chief officers
Chairs of the Assessment Equalization Board
Judson H. Lamb 1918-1923
William D. Spence 1924-1935
John William Judge 1935-1946
James M. Forbes 1946-1952
John Bruce Laidlaw (Acting) 1952
John Bruce Laidlaw 1952-1973
Robert Leslie Cross 1973-1979
Allan Craig Bell 1979-1981
Rene G. Gagne 1981-1991
Adrian A. Waters 1991-1994