‘It feels like a slap in the face’: APAS concerned over Growth Coalition municipal tax proposal

The Saskatchewan Growth Coalition needs to see the province’s economic system get stronger from mining to manufacturing by proposing a change to municipal taxing.

Nonetheless, it’s elevating a pink flag for farmers who fear they may find yourself paying extra.

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) mentioned that after the worst drought in over 30 years, the proposal looks like a slap within the face.

Scott Owens, APAS Director of District 6 mentioned, “When oil and gasoline is again as much as ranges we haven’t seen in six or seven years, why rapidly do they want a tax break?”

The coalition mentioned they need the provincial authorities to usher in limits on how a lot municipalities can tax various kinds of industries.

There are three entities who pay taxes in a rural setting: residential, industrial and agricultural.

In response to Owens, agriculture can be hit with a noticeable tax enhance.

“If one celebration out of these three calls for to pay much less then somebody has to select up the slack and it was implied that farmers must be paying additional property taxes to make up the distinction,” mentioned Owens.

A member of the Progress Coalition and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, John Hopkins, mentioned that isn’t the case.

“We’re not saying that farmers ought to pay extra or anyone ought to pay extra, it’s let’s guarantee that it’s a clear course of and that it’s truthful.”

Owens has a counter proposal for the coalition to look into to assist with their problem, saying, “If particular person grain firms or gasoline firms have points with explicit RM’s, strategy them immediately.”

The coalition argues Saskatchewan must be extra aggressive with regards to municipal taxes in comparison with different provinces, and they’re prepared to start out the dialog.

“If that takes speaking to different stake holders like APAS or whoever else it may be, then you recognize let’s sit down and speak about it,” mentioned Hopkins.

The Authorities of Saskatchewan has but to share their response on the subject.