A lot of very unhappy farmers out there right now
To the Expositor:
The full impact of the latest property assessments delivered by MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) and the final date of September 29, 2017 for taxes due in the municipality of NEMI (Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands), property owners of agricultural lands will bear the majority of tax increases over all classes of property such as residential, recreational, commercial and industrial. The farmers are already faced with high operating costs for fuel, seed, fertilizer, machinery and repairs, etc. and now add property taxes.
I own a small farm property of 170 acres and I have a 30 percent increase in my farm property assessment resulting in a 37 percent increase in my taxes from 2016. This tax increase is for the farmland and farm buildings, excluding the residence. I might be able to recoup some of this tax increase from a neighbouring farmer who rents my farm, but if I do I expect he will be a very unhappy farmer.
Jack Ferguson
Green Bay
