Government moves to reduce financial impact of high valuations

By spreading the property assessment roll increases according to the length of the municipal assessment roll, and by offering taxpayers the possibility of paying their school-tax bills in two payments, Chagnon said the Charest government is further diminishing the impact of school-tax bill increases in cases where a new assessment has come into effect.

“It is tangible proof of our desire to further accompany our school boards in their work, while respecting taxpayers financial reality�, stated Chagnon.

Once the Bill is adopted by the National Assembly, the school tax increases will be limited to the school board’s increased financial expenditures.

According to Education, Recreation and Sports Minister Jean-Marc Fournier, “For all Quebec taxpayers, the 2007 school-tax bills will be maintained at a comparable amount to that of last year and increases will be limited. Taxpayers whose new assessment came into effect in 2006 will even see a significant decrease in their tax bill.�

Chagnon specified that Fournier will propose the creation of a committee responsible for amassing comments and suggestions from various participants interested in the school-tax system, particularly municipalities, to the Table Québec-commissions scolaires in order for a greater consideration on the local financing of education to occur over the next two years. This committee will contribute to the public’s consideration on these issues, as well as to create a place for exchanges and for the expression diverse points of view.