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And while some farmers may be worried that an increase in farmland values means a tax increase, Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison said that’s not a definite conclusion.
“They’re getting hit hard as far as assessment is concerned, but not as far as taxes,” he told Quinte News. “And the assessment is based on what properties sold for, farmer to farmer.”
But Mayor Harrison also warned that if farmland taxes aren’t increased, other taxes could be upped to offset costs.
“But you have to remember all taxes are a circle. You take from one you have to get from somebody else. So if we reduce the farm tax rate then we will have to increase someone else’s rate. Council will have to look at the figures and all the assessments and come up with something that is relative to our needs.”
Everyone who receives a property assessment has 120 days to appeal their notice, which for farmers is around February 8, 2017.
The OFA also has tips on how to properly read the MPAC assessments.