Resolution 25-02A

WHEREAS, the current Farm Land Education Tax Rebate Program does mitigate the agriculture property tax shift but does incur a considerable cost in administration; and

WHEREAS, the previous proposed amendments to the current program regarding the administration costs state that the rebate should be taken off at the time of payment in the RM offices which downloads the responsibility of the determination of eligibility and rebate amount onto the administration staff;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the province modify the current Farm Land Education Tax Rebate Program to be as efficient as possible by implementing a provincial mill rate factor (adjusted annually to reflect changes to assessments) on the education side of the levy to produce a 2002 education tax adjustment of approximately 40% at the time of levy

Response From Hon. Clay Serby:

The Farmland Property Tax Rebate Program (FLPTRP) was established as a two-year program to cover the years 2000 and 2001. We allocated $50 million for the FLPTRP for those years. Due to the fiscal situation of the province, the program has not been continued.