Councillors concerned over rate farmland is taxed
By Bill Rea

Farmland has been taxed at a lower rate than residential properties for a number of years, to the detriment of municipal coffers, and King councillors are still upset by it.

That matter was discussed recently as councillors set an interim tax levy to get the municipality through the first part of the year.

Treasurer Don Young reported municipalities are allowed to set interim levies early in the year of up to one half of the previous year's tax. He also told Councillor Jane Underhill assessment in King has increased by about 0.05 per cent over the last year.

But Underhill was also concerned that farmland is taxed at a quarter of the rate residential properties are.Young said there used to be a rebate, but that's been dropped.

Underhill suggested sending a letter to Queen's Park, asking to have the rebate reinstated.

Township CAO Scott Somerville said there's nothing to stop the municipality from making requests, although he wasn't sure if it would do much good. He called the dropping of the rebate "another aspect of downloading, of sorts."

Underhill countered the Province should hear about how the loss of revenue has been a hardship on rural municipalities.

Mayor Margaret Black said such letters were sent around 1996 or '97, adding this is something the government should revisit.

Councillor Jack Rupke pointed out farmers still pay the full assessment on their houses and building. It's only the actual farm land that's different.

"It's not as bad as it looks," he remarked. "It's the land that produced food for you and I."