Five organizations that represent the Saskatchewan public want the provincial government to get serious about reducing education tax for individuals and businesses.
“We represent everybody,” said Neal Hardy, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. “It’s not just farmers saying, ‘we need it.’ “
On Sept. 21, SARM joined with the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce and the Provincial Association of Resort Communities of Saskatchewan to present a funding proposal.
The groups want the government to increase its funding of kindergarten to Grade 12 education by five percent in each of the next three years. Saskatchewan now pays 45 percent, which the coalition said is the lowest percentage of education funding in Canada.
Read Also
Food can play a flavourful role in fun summer activities
Recipes – popsicles are made with lactose-free milk and yogurt so are perfect for those who can’t tolerate milk, while everyoneelse will also enjoy them
By gradually increasing the amount it pays, the province would be covering 60 percent of the education bill by 2008.
Hardy, who called the plan doable, said Saskatchewan taxpayers have lived through tough times and now that the government has more resources because of oil revenue and a special equalization payment from the federal government of $532 million, it should be able to tackle the perennial problem of the imbalance in education funding.
The province has regularly promised tax relief in this area. Two years ago it unveiled a temporary program offering a property tax credit that totals $55 million a year. The credit is to expire at the end of 2006.
“High property taxes place a burden on residential, agricultural and business property owners and negatively impact the economy,” the coalition said in a News release.
It also noted the province was ignoring the recommendation of its own commission, which reported last year that the province should pay more of the education bill.
“We feel this is a time for a solution. It is an opportunity, not a political football,” said Lance Bean, president of the school boards association.
Bean said while the coalition recognizes health care is the province’s priority, “hopefully we’ve No. 2.”
Saskatchewan government relations minister Len Taylor said the province is committed to education property tax relief. However, he said the government wants a long-term plan that is sustainable and not dependent on the volatility of the world oil price.
If the province finds out this winter, before the 2006 budget is released, that it has larger and more permanent payments from Ottawa, it could possibly do something on the taxes.
“Our intention is to move forward on a long-term program in 2007 … We are not closing the door to a 2006 change,” Taylor said.
