REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) calls for a reduction in school taxes in its annual pre-budget submission to the province of Saskatchewan.
“School taxes remain a high priority for the CTF in Saskatchewan,” said CTF-Saskatchewan director Lee Harding. “Currently the province pays roughly half of the cost of K-12 education. Over the next three years, we want that to see that increased to 75 percent. School taxes levied on property remain unduly heavy for farmers and those with low incomes. Bigger rebates are only bigger band-aids.”
Harding will publicly unveil the CTF’s 16 recommendations today at 5 p.m. at the University of Saskatchewan. The submission, entitled "Opportunity Knocks," was presented to Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer in December. It is available online at [url=http://www.taxpayer.com/bank/report/199.pdf]http://www.taxpayer.com/bank/report/199.pdf[/url] .
"We are delighted that the province has already decided to submit large capital projects for consideration as public-private partnerships," said Harding. "This was a recomendation we made to the province in last year's pre-budget submission as well as this year's. It has worked successfully in British Columbia and will work in Saskatchewan too."
The CTF also suggests other tax reductions, including cuts to levies on small, medium and large businesses.
“The 4.5 percent small business tax rate is highest in the west,” said Harding. “We want to see that reduced to 3.5 by 2010. As well, the NDP’s cut to the general business tax rate from 17 to 12 percent has actually given the province more revenue. Now that they are fully implemented, the Sask Party should plot a course to get us to 10 percent by 2012 and on par with Alberta.”
The CTF is also proposing the province dedicate all of its oil royalties to debt reduction, and later, a savings plan.
“Interest payments on debt are a complete waste of hard earned tax dollars. Saskatchewan is widely expected to lead the country in economic growth again this year, and some of those revenues must be put against the debt,” Harding concluded.
The CTF will formally unveil its pre-budget submission at University of Saskatchewan today, as it has in past years. This year’s event, hosted by the Economics Students Society and Edwards Business Students Society, starts at 5 p.m. today in the Neatby-Timblin Theatre, Arts 241.
Lee Harding, Provincial Director, CTF - Saskatchewan
