EDUCATION PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR FARMERS

Premier Lorne Calvert today announced education property tax relief that fulfils the province's commitment to farmers and farm families.

The province will provide an additional $52.8 million in education property tax relief on agricultural land, which establishes on average a 60/40 province/local education tax split. This is ongoing, sustainable funding.

"Three years ago, I very publicly stated that the level of education tax being taken from farmland was both unfair and too high – a problem that has been with us for decades," Premier Calvert said in making this announcement. "We are in a position now, after a lot of hard work, to offer this long term solution."

"Saskatchewan people are very aware of the pressures on the family farm," the Premier added. "This latest funding will help producers stay on the land and is the most significant change in the property taxation of farmland in decades."

"Over the past two years, agricultural land owners have also benefited from a portion of the $110-million this government has provided for education property tax relief," Calvert added.

"We still need to work with the federal government on equalization to provide long-term, sustainable funding for education that will enable us to provide relief to all ratepayers," the Premier concluded.

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