New taxes off the table for the time being

The plan of the water boards, based on the 'polluter pays' principle, has been shelved for the time being. Various water boards have noted that there is insufficient support for the proposal. 

The Union of Water Boards presented a new system for water charges in June. The starting point was that polluters and companies that benefit above average from the efforts of the water boards also have to pay more for those services. Water quality is included for the first time.

Farmers pay more
In particular, property taxes (related to the value of the house or land) will be tinkered with. The biggest change in the proposal was that the division between 'built' (homes and businesses) and 'unbuilt' (land owners) is adjusted. This means that farmers will pay more and homeowners will pay less.

The Union of Water Boards has now decided to postpone the decision on the new system. There is too little support within the various water boards. That is why the board wants to postpone the decision-making for at least six months. After the elections of March 20, 2019, new boards will take office at the water boards, which will then have to take up the file again.

Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

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