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The Rural Voice, 1982-05, Page 16RURAL NEWS IN BRIEF Budget move may lower taxes When the provincial budget comes down next month. Ontario farmers likely can expect a move that will put an extra 524 million in their pockets for 1983. Indications are that Treasurer Frank Miller will institute a new system that eventually will exempt farm land and buildings from municipal property taxes by 1985. For 1983 and 1984, the plan is to give farmers total rebates for such taxes, meaning they will get an estimated 524 million more than the present scheme now pays them. Miller wants to move into a straight exemption because recent federal tax changes treat the provincial rebates as income. So farmers end up paying income tax on provincial grants. The treasurer may have delayed the exemption because of fierce rural municipal lobbying against it. Many townships fear the measure would severe- ly erode their tax bases, although the province would make up lost revenues through increased grants. Increased rebates, at least. could have started this year. Miller had said. however, he would put any plan on hold until it got Ontario Federation of agri- culture (OFA) approval. Federation directors found too many problems with the original tax reform package as it was presented last year. The changes they demanded delayed the plan. A revamped plan now appears to have the green light, even though the OFA still has some misgivings about two pro- visions. Here's what the government has proposed: • All farm land and buildings would qualify for total property tax rebates in 1983 and 1984 with the exemption coming into force in 1985; • A qualifying farm would need to have gross production valued at 512,000 in southern Ontario, 58.000 in the north. Values would be adjusted yearly, based on the Farm Price Index; • Persons qualifying must be Canadian residents, thus eliminating foreign owners; • A farmer would pay property tax on his residence and a one -acre lot assessed at the market value of other residences and unsevered one -acre lots in the area. Directors argued strongly that market values would vary widely between farm homes in largely rural townships and those within urban shadows of cities such as Toronto, Kitchener or London. The OFA has insisted that lots be assessed on the basis of the land's productive value, noted president Ralph Barrie. But the government refuses to agree. OFA passed a carefully worded re- solution accepting the government pro- posal in principle but noting the OFA 's dissatisfaction with the residential assess- ment method. It also wants the minimum gross production valued at 55.000 for 1983 and indexed from then. Farm and Country Huron farmer dines with the Queen Glen McNeil. 28, of R.R. 6, Goderich dined with the Queen at the Young Achievers dinner in Ottawa April 16. Mr. McNeil, from Heather Holme Farms, was one of 282 young people chosen from federal ridings across Canada flown to Ottawa to attend the Constitution pre- sentation and banquet. Each achiever was between the ages of 18-35 and was chosen for their contribution in different areas. Mr. McNeil's being agriculture. Mr. McNeil is married to the 'former Vanda Storey of R.R. 1. Dublin, daughter of Frances Storey and the late Everett Storey. The McNeils have one daughter Katie. Glen McNeil is one of the 4-H leaders of the Dungannon calf club and former leader of the 4-H club leaders association. He also serves as a member for the Huron county Holstein club selection for the champion show at London Fair. A former president of the Huron County Junior Farmers. he is now involved in reading pedigrees at Carson's Sales Arena at Listowel and is an aspiring judge in western Ontario for the Holstein-Fresian Association. The all -Canadian two year old Holstein for 1981 was bred at McNeil's Heather Holme farm. Glen McNeil received the Holstein- Fresian Association Distinguished Achievement Award and travelled to Madison, Wisconsin to the World Dairy Expo last year. Fieldman promoted Huron County Federation of Agri- culture fieldman Bill Crawford has been promoted to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture in Toronto as director of insurance and administration services. Mr. Crawford has been the HCFA fieldman since 1972. He has served with six Huron county presidents and was heavily involved in membership drives over the years which helped to make Huron County the largest membership in OFA. THE GOOD OLD DAYS Why does agriculture get the short end of the stick? The Canadian Countryman 1939 Ship your Livestock WITH Art Heffron Blyth SHIPPER FOR UNITED CO-OPERATIVES OF ONTARIO Livestock Marketing Division Ontario Stockyards, Toronto PHONE BY 8 A.M. MONDAY 523-4221 PG. 14 THE RURAL VOICE/MAY 1982 .rl WARD & UPTIGROVE Chartered Accountants Box 127, Listowel, Ontario 291-3040 R.B. Karcher, C.A. C.D. Newell, C.A. I.W. Smith, C.A. R.E. Uptigrove, C.A. Supervisors C.W. Brouse, C.A. R.H. Loree, C.A.