Farmland owners are facing the brunt of tax increases in what some are calling the most difficult Western School Division budget proposed in over a decade.

Secretary-Treasurer Carl Pedersen said for someone who owns a quarter section of land formerly valued at $1 million, now worth around $1.23 million, will have an increase of around $599 on their tax bill. He noted it's directly related to the 23% increase in assessment.

"Last year a house valued at $275,000, and what we found is that household assessments went up generally six percent, that house reassessed would go up to $291,500," Pedersen said. However, due to the drop in mill rate from 16.61 to 15.38 mills, it's actually a reduction of $38 on their net household taxes.

Meanwhile, a business previously valued at $500,000, which has been re-assessed to $530,000, will see an increase of just over $100.

WSD presented its $21,217,185 budget to the public at its budget exhibition at the Morden Collegiate Wednesday evening. WSD Chair Brian Fransen says this is an increase of around $630,000 over last year's budget ($20,585,844).

"This was the most difficult budget year I've had in twelve years of being a trustee," said Trustee Chair Brian Fransen.

According to Pedersen staffing once again eats up around 80% of the division's budget.

Fransen, however, said he was happy to be one of the few divisions in the Province to receive an increase in funding.

"We knew what we had to play with, and the challenge was how do we make that work without having a negative impact on students and staff in the classrooms," said Fransen.