WHEREAS municipalities currently assess and tax grazing lease holders;AND WHEREAS the current proposals under the Agricultural Disposition Review provide for the Alberta government to pay property taxes on grazing leases similar to grant-in-lieu properties;AND WHEREAS the current proposals under the Agricultural Dispositions Review provide for the Alberta government to collect both rental and property taxes from lease holders;AND WHEREAS most farmer advocacy groups oppose this new initiative and wish to retain the current manner of property tax payments directly to municipalities;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties call on the provincial Ministers of Agriculture and Municipal Affairs to:a) reject the current proposal to pay grants-in-lieu of property taxes on grazing lease properties; andb) allow the continued practice of agriculture grazing lease disposition property taxes to be paid directly to municipalities.

So far the Agriculture Dispositions Review has recommended that grazing lease taxes be paid by the province to municipalities as a grant-in-lieu. Further those taxes would be added to annual lease payments.The agricultural community in Big Lakes objects to this proposal and prefers the current method of paying taxes directly to the municipality.Although administratively the proposal may be more efficient, there is a fear of losing current rights and ability to appeal assessments.