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State Rep. Tom Todd, D-Campbell, right, and State Rep. Terry Swinger, D-Caruthersville, left, both attend the Agri Business Committee meeting on January 20.
Photo provided |
House Concurrent Resolution 7, 3, and 17, to disapprove the Missouri State Tax Commission's recommendation regarding the value for each grade of agricultural and horticultural land based on productive capability, was recently approved through the Missouri House of Representatives and will now move to the Senate to receive approval or disapproval.
The Missouri State Tax Commission's recommendation would increase the top four categories of farmland, which is based on eight categories, to 30 percent, and allow a 24 percent tax decrease on three categories of the least valuable Missouri farmland.
The recommendation is based on a Food and Agricultural Police Research Institute study that indicated the rise of the ethanol industry coincided with a rise in the productive value of farmland.
State Rep. Tom Todd, D-Campbell, noted that 93 percent of the farmland in his districts fall under the classification of 1, 2, or 3 in the proposed tax commission recommendation, which would increase the land evaluation by 29 percent.
"This will raise the taxes in every taxing jurisdiction and in the Bootheel more than anywhere else in the State," Todd said. "I feel, with the overall economy the way it is, it is the wrong time to increase the evaluation of agricultural land which in turn increases taxes for all area farmers. To top it off, our farmers need some time to recoup from 2009, it was a very tough year with the ice storm and then the excessive rain making it almost impossible to get the crops planted (some planted as many as three or more times). The continued wet conditions made it almost impossible to get the crops harvested."
State Rep. Terry Swinger, D-Caruthersville, noted that he was also in favor of the resolution to disapprove the Missouri State Tax Commission's recommendation.
"With all of the costs to farmers, [they] can not stand an increase like this," Swinger said.
He added that the representatives were "doing all we can to get the resolution passed."
The resolution passed through the Missouri House of Representatives with 140 "yes" votes and 15 "no" votes on Wednesday, January 27.
The resolution will now be discussed in a hearing with the Senate and then go to the Senate Floor for a vote.
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I don't think I've ever seen a picture of Tom Todd without Terry Swinger in it.