From CBC:
There are now 64 RMs refusing to turn over the education portion of the property tax they've been collecting. The Prince Albert-area RM of Shellbrook was among the latest to join.
People in the RMs say agricultural land is taxed at an unfairly high rate. Some of the areas have been hard hit by poor crop conditions and a generally tough farm economy in recent years.
Glenn Blakley, a councillor for the RM of Spy Hill and the spokesperson for the Tax Action Group, says he hopes more of the province's 296 RMs will join the protest.
We're surveying our Saskatchewan supporters on school taxes and I just got the first few responses on my desk this morning. One respondent says his total school tax levy is $3,405 per year on six quarter-sections of land. Their municipal tax bill is $1,711 per year, to bring the the total to $5,116.
For those not familiar with farms, six quarter-sections is not a big farm. It's probably the average size for family farmers. For urban families on an average home you are looking at a $900 bill, depending on the house and where you are. Tell me how this is fair.
Imagine losing money for three years in a row and getting hit with a $5,000 tax bill.
Here's our most recent commentary.
1 comment:
When are farmers going to quit wallowing in self pity? I pay $1250.00 education tax on my house and I can't write it off........farmers can. I've lived in Sask. all my life over 50 years and the farmers have been whining over 50 years.What the hell do they want? They are selfish self sastisfying bunch of rich bums. They would take anything they can get for free as long as the other 850,000 people in Sask pay for it.I was raised among them.This whole farm crisis is the Sask Party playing politics like Devine did. There are only 50,000 farmers in Sask.They are not a big player any more. Mining is bigger,manufacturing is bigger,lumber is bigger,working people who actually pay the majority of taxes are bigger. I have a leader post article dated March 3,2001 that states farming only contributes 8 percent to our gross national product. Farm income goes to farmers first. Most farmers don't pay a lot of income taxes because the rich don't pay taxes and farmers are rich. They drive the motorhomes and pull the big 5th wheels and drive $50,000.00 trucks. The farmers still want the Government to cut them a cheque........no questions asked.Just like when their friend Devine was in power.Brad Wall is cut from Devines underware. Rural Sask is pissed because Brad Wall tells these rich farmers it's the Governments fault they can't go to Arizona. It's the farmers fault not me as a tax payer. The cost of living high has caught up to them. Grandpa started the farm,Dad built it up and the kids either sold it or pissed it away.
Post a Comment