HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1977-09-28, Page 9County council talks
•bout tax reform
By a show of hands, Huron
County Council barely accepted a
report of the executive com-
mittee presented at the regular
September session. Thursday in
Goderich. The portion of the
report which caused the con-
troversy was the debate on tax
reform in Ontario, in particular
taxation on farmland.
The Blair Commission
recommends that farmers will
pay taxes on their houses and "a
reasonable amount of land"
surrounding the house from their
own resources, while 100 percent
of the tax on the farm buildings
and the farmland will be paid by
the government.
The recommendation of the
executive committee was that
farmers pay 100 percent of the
taxes on their houses and the
portion of land surrounding them,
and that farmland, together with
farm buildings be assessed at 100
percent of the market value with
the farmer paying 10 percent of
the resulting property tax while
the remaining 90 percent is paid
by the province. The committee
also recommended that there be
a proviso that the farmer be
allowed to pay all or any portion
of the taxes on the farmland and
farm buildings, if he so desires.
The executive committee,
council was told, felt its
recommendation to give farmers
the choice to pay all taxes on all
the property would be some
protection for those farmers who
had plans to sell their property
for development purposes. It is
understood that taxes paid on
farmland by the government are
forgivable after 10 years,
providing the farmland remains
as farmland. If, however, the
farm is sold for development
purposes, the farmer will be
required to reimburse the
government for the taxes which
have been paid on his behalf, up
to 10 years back.
All property will be assessed at
market value, it was stated,
although there is no firm
definition yet just how market
value will be determined. There
is also no definition of what "a
reasonable amount of land"
surround the farm home will be.
Debate begins
Paul Steckle, the deputy -reeve
of Stanley Township, led off the
discussion by questioning the
entire premise of having any or
all farm taxes paid by govern-
ment.
"I question whether we want to
go this route," said Steckle. "I
don't think there is a farmer in
this room who wants the
govermennt paying his taxes for
him."
Steckle alluded to the present
system whereby 50 percent of the
farmer's taxes are reimbursed to
him because the government
recognizes the fact that farmland
should not pay for services to
people. Steckle said he agreed
that farmland should not help to
pay for such services as
education, health, libraries,
social services, etc. but he
suggested the system of tax
Citizens News, September 28, 1977 Page 9
ZURICH PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL -- Student representatives and members of the executive
for 1977 pose for the photographer. Front, left to right, are; Darrel Gingerich, grade 6; Angela Zehr,
secretary, grade 8; Darlene Steckle, vice-president, grade 8; and Steve Consitt, grade 4. Second row, left to
right, are; Greg O'Brien, grade 7; Jim Willert, president, grade 8; Bill Livingston, treasurer, grade 8; and
John McAllister, grade 8. Staff photo
deferrals or reimbursements was
not the best solution since per-
sons who were not really earning
their livelihood from the farm
were also classed as farmers and
thereby received the special tax
concessions.
"We want to pay our taxes,"
Steckle told council. "Let's get
paid for what we're selling and
then we can pay them."
Reeve Bill Elston of Morris
Township agreed. He said he
didn't like the idea of government
paying any portion of farm taxes
since it would lead to farmers
losing control of their own land.
"If government pays the bills,
five years down the road
government will be telling us
what to do with our land,"
predicted Elston. "If we accept
that, we're selling out the County
of Huron."
As a general rule, Elston said,
rural and residential assessment
will be up under the new system,
while commercial and industrial
assessment will be down.
Reeve Calvin Krauter of
Brussels defended the
businessmen. He said there is
"nothing fair about business
assessment" because, Krauter
said, the businessman pays a sur-
, charge on his taxes regardless of
the business he does.
"I'm not arguing for me alone.
I've heard this complaint for
years from business people,"
said Krauter. "If everybody paid
Please turn to Page 10
DISCOVER GREAT VALUE FOR OUR 4TH YEAR
ANNIVERSARY SALE
Boneless Pure
5 & 10 LB. PARCELS 51.33
Pork Sousage .b. ;1 .39
Fresh
Ham Steak
;,11. t.
yr a% IIMVIO
• ""'""" �.�� -amu,:..,
wino. Mkt COIN,
L..10.E •••••.rr'
• srs.....r+..+rte aaaM11r+.
annall.M11.1111.111101.0, .1.1.1011.1.11
wpm Imams ..w.,... �OM:.as•..w '• •0•16,111111M WEL
�.• aa+. IMO 11111•11••••.••, 1
.i1.111111.111.N.
11111111011 11.11ing Tiaiii$MONW Mr!
IMP
!W�..
Writ'
=1:2, .111•111.1111110111111100.,-
;. �.�.,....N..�
ORDER NOW
THANKSGIVING
HAMS
TURKEYS
FREE
DRAW
$25.00
MEAT VOUCHER
Partly Skimmed Halves, Wholes, /a's
Bone -In Hams lb. $ 1 . 1 9
Schneiders
oldFashioned Halves or Wholes
Hams • Ib. $2.59
Football Hams Available • Garlic and Smoked Sausage Available • Custom
Services Offered.
LIMITED QUANTITIES ON ALL ADVERTISED ITEMS WEEKEND SPECIALS/ SEPT. 29, 30, OCT. 1
Yu
DRAW ON
OCT. 1
at 6 p.m.
GBLuT, ZURICH ARKET