Resolution No. 22-01A

WHEREAS, the Farm Land Education Tax Rebate Program was established in 2000 to reduce the education tax burden on agriculture land, and

WHEREAS, although the Program will reduce the education tax burden on agriculture land by approximately $50 million over the years 2000 and 2001, there is a great deal of concern over the way the program is being administered, and

WHEREAS, the present program provides a 25% per cent rebate on all agriculture land except the home quarter or, where there is no home quarter, the quarter with the highest assessment; thus making it administratively impossible to deduct the rebate at the municipal level,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Minister of Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food revise the Farm Land Education Tax Rebate Program by establishing a tax rebate on all agriculture land and deducting the amount of the rebate from the taxes owing at the time of the payment of the taxes at the municipal office.

Response from Gord Nystuen:

The Farm Land Education Tax Rebate Program was designed to provide a two year reduction of 25 percent on the education tax paid by owners of farm land. The home quarter deduction was put in place in recognition that other property owners pay education tax on their lot and home, and buildings used for business. The intent was that owners of farm land would pay the full education tax on a home quarter or equivalent to provide a level of equity between farmers and other property owners.

The Government of Saskatchewan is always prepared to discuss improvements to the program and its administration within the criteria of the program's intent. We welcome input from SARM and the RMAA in this regard.