Chatham-Kent councillors have voted against a motion calling for a one per cent farm tax ratio hike.
On Monday, council voted 10-7 against Ward 1 Councillor Lauren Anderson's motion proposing to raise the farm tax ratio from 22 per cent to 23 per cent.
East Kent's Steve Pinsonneault and John Wright, South Kent's Trevor Thompson, Anthony Ceccacci, and Ryan Doyle, North Kent's Jamie McGrail and Rhonda Jubenville - all voted against the motion, along with Ward 6 Councillors Amy Finn, Michael Bondy, and Conor Allin.
A number of deputations from local groups, including the Chatham-Kent Property Rights Association and the Kent Federation of Agriculture, disapproved of the increase.
KFA President Brad Snobelen said council has made the decision in the past to defer this until Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) has brought new data forward, adding it was the federation's opinion for council to make that decision again.
"Without the updated assessment, it is simply not possible for council to make an informed about our tax ratio," said Snobelen. "To make the decision of changing farm tax ratio using current MPAC data means that council intends to make decisions with a blindfold on."
Councillor McGrail raised the issue that engagement between the municipality and potential stakeholders had fallen short.
She said the municipality did not give proper awareness to those who would potentially be affected by the tax hike.
“I cannot support this at this time," said McGrail. "I think we have to think about how this was conducted and if this was fair to the groups in the process of how this came about."
The farm tax ratio was lowered to 22 per cent during the early 2000s to give farmers some relief while the agricultural industry was struggling, with the intent to bring it back to the 25 per cent level over time.
The municipality is currently working on MPAC rates set in 2016. New rates are not expected to be updated until at least 2024.
Changes to the farm tax ratio in Chatham-Kent are expected to be revisited at a future date.
