More farm tax money sought
By Richard Blanchard

Simcoe County Council is looking for funding from the provincial government to help subsidize the Farm Tax rebate program on farmland.

Councillors voted to support a resolution from the Western Ontario Warden's Caucus, which would have the province contribute equivalent compensation for the rebate program.

Council was told the program costs local municipalities between $100 and $200,000 during a recent meeting.

County CAO Mark Aitken told councillors that the program costs the county between $4 and $5 million in lost revenue.

The program was introduced in 1998 and sees 75 per cent of the taxes on farmland subsidized.

The province promised to make up this reduction to local municipalities but there has not been sufficient compensation.

County warden Tony Guergis said that various provincial municipal associations have pushed for changes to the funding structure over the past decade without much success.

"We will continue to press for more money," he said.