Huron Expositor, 2007-12-26, Page 3The Huron Expositor • December 26, 2007 Page 3
News
Council approves farm tax deferral for fourth year
Susan Hundertmark
For the fourth year in a row, Huron
East will be allowing farmers in the
municipality to defer their property
taxes until the fall.
While the measure allows 1,700
properties in Huron East with farm-
land assessment to delay paying
their taxes in 2008 to September
and December, Deputy -Mayor
Bernie MacLellan questioned at
council's Dec. 18 meeting if it is
really necessary.
MacLellan pointed out that the
proposal was first put forward in
2005 to help farmers deal with
record low grain prices, adding that
those prices have gone up over 50
per cent in 2007.
"I understand that the beef and
hog farmers are having a tough year
but has there ever been a year in
the history of the planet where both
the grain and livestock farmers
have had a good year at the same
time?" he said.
"We're never going to come back
off of this program if we keep going
this way," said MacLellan.
McKillop Coun. Bill Siemon
answered that livestock farmers are
having a particularly bad year.
"For beef and pork, it's as tough
as it's ever been. A lot of young guys
are not going to survive it," he said.
In 2007, the total amount
deferred was over $975,000 and the
cost to the municipality was approx-
imately $30,000 in lost investment
income. The same amount will be
left in the rural economy until the
last quarter of 2008.
A list of prices shared with council
include $2.95 a bushel for soft white
wheat in 2005, compared to $6.47 a
bushel in 2007 and $2.52 a bushel
for old crop corn in 2005 compared
to $3.79 a bushel in 2007.
As well, prices from 2005 showed
$1.24 a kilogram for hogs and 31
cents a kilogram for fed cattle com-
pared to 2007 prices of 96 cents for
hogs and 74 to 83 cents for fed cat-
tle.
"Although improvements are evi-
dent in the prices of grain and cere-
als, the red meat industry has been
devastated with low prices. This,
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along with increasing input cots for
fuel, energy and crops along with
the uncertainty caused by our
strong Canadian dollar, are affect-
ing all agricultural sectors," said a
press release from council.
Steve Thompson, president of the
Huron County Federation of
Agriculture, called the decision to
offer the tax deferral a fourth year
"a gracious move" acknowledging
the benefit would be felt by live-
stock farmers instead of grain farm-
ers this year.
"It's very much appreciated that
they're continuing the gesture. It
does help when you're feeling a cash
flow pinch to know someone is
wanting to help," he said.
"It's a moral boost as much as
anything. When you're feeling
besieged and beset, any gesture
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