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State Representative Jim Buchy
CAUV Has Saved
Farmers Billions
The Current Agriculture Use Valuation has been a topic of discussion
lately. I support this modified tax rate for agricultural land in
Ohio because it has saved around $10 billion for farmers in Ohio since
1973.
Unlike previous tax laws, the CAUV is a tax assessment that allows
farmland to be taxed based on its agricultural value, not on its full
market value. The five factors that are included in the CAUV rate are
cropping pattern, crop prices, crop yield, non-land production coasts,
and capitalization rates.
The formula was developed with local input and voted on by
Ohioans. The last few years have resulted in ups and downs in the
fields, and as a result, the increases in CAUV rates are causing
concerns for local farmers. I am in discussions with the Ohio
Farm Bureau Federation regarding any possible changes that can be made
to reduce the continued increase in CAUV.
Ultimately, any major changes to the CAUV rates and formula will
require a vote of the people to change the Ohio Constitution, and I
would ask that local input be included in all of those
discussions. We have fine agriculture attorneys locally and their
efforts in the crafting of the CAUV amendment must be included going
forward.
Reducing operation costs for all businesses including farmers has been
a focus of the legislature in the past four years and I will continue
to work for reductions in fixed operating costs. For Ohioans,
reducing taxes and regulations will reduce operating costs.
Governor Kasich has worked to reduce the personal income tax on all
working Ohioans and specifically included a 50-percent reduction for
small business owners, which would include many farmers. In
addition, we are working for continued reforms at the Bureau of
Worker’s Comp to return money to employers. It is worth noting
that one of the first accomplishments in Governor Kasich’s first budget
was the elimination of the state death tax. Eliminating the state
death tax was a benefit that helps farmers by reducing the costs of
keeping a farm in the family.
The CAUV tax rate has provided billions of dollars of relief to Ohio
farmers. Recently, events in the agricultural sector have caused
the formula to result in a spike. Working to reduce the long-term
effects of this spike is important and I support the state legislature
doing what it can to accomplish this goal. Long-term changes may
be needed that would require local input and a vote of the
people. In state government, we remain committed to reducing the
costs of doing business and have taken steps to help farmers in Ohio.
Please give me your opinion on this topic and others in the news this
month by completing an online survey at tinyurl.com/buchynovember2014.
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