Sask School Taxes Highest in Canada
Regina: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has renewed its fight for lower property taxes by releasing numbers today obtained from the provincial Department of Education through Freedom of Information that show the burden of education taxes on Saskatchewan property owners is more than twice as heavy as the rest of Canada.
"Property taxes in Saskatchewan are punitive and out of whack with the rest of the country," says Saskatchewan CTF Director Richard Truscott. "The enormity of the gap between this province and the rest of the country is just astounding."
Property taxes fund 59% of education costs in Saskatchewan, compared to the average of 26% for all provinces. The next heaviest burden is in Manitoba, where 51% of education is paid for by property taxes, while in New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland education is funded entirely by the province with other tax revenues.
School taxes have increased dramatically across the province since 1985, but particularly in rural areas while farm income has plummeted. This has prompted grassroots "tax revolt" meetings across the province. Last spring the CTF presented a petition with the names of 12,500 taxpayers to Premier Calvert demanding a significant decrease in education taxes.
"The government's policies on property taxes and school funding have compounded the problems facing Saskatchewan, particularly in rural areas. There needs to be some serious changes in the next budget to how we fund schools," says Truscott.
"Property taxes in Saskatchewan are punitive and out of whack with the rest of the country," says Saskatchewan CTF Director Richard Truscott. "The enormity of the gap between this province and the rest of the country is just astounding."
Property taxes fund 59% of education costs in Saskatchewan, compared to the average of 26% for all provinces. The next heaviest burden is in Manitoba, where 51% of education is paid for by property taxes, while in New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland education is funded entirely by the province with other tax revenues.
School taxes have increased dramatically across the province since 1985, but particularly in rural areas while farm income has plummeted. This has prompted grassroots "tax revolt" meetings across the province. Last spring the CTF presented a petition with the names of 12,500 taxpayers to Premier Calvert demanding a significant decrease in education taxes.
"The government's policies on property taxes and school funding have compounded the problems facing Saskatchewan, particularly in rural areas. There needs to be some serious changes in the next budget to how we fund schools," says Truscott.
