Farm Real Estate Taxes, 1979

Taxes on farm real estate increased at a relatively slow rate to an estimated $323 million from 1977 to 1979. The implementation of differential assessment laws of circuit breaker tax credits in all States except Georgia and Mississippi and the enactment of property tax relief measures such as California's Proposition 13 have significantly limited the growth of property taxes on farmland. Taxes per acre declined from $3.34 in 1977 to $3.33 in 1978, and increase~ in 1979 to $3.57. The average value of farm real estate increased at a faster rate than farm real estate taxes, explaining the decline in the effective tax rate from $0.70 per $100 market value in 1977 to $0.64 and $0.60 in 1978 and 1979, respectively