Sours Grapes?

Panel holds fate of farms
By Roszan Holmen - Saanich News - March 07, 2008



Review deadline too late for next year’s tax bills

If fresh, local produce tops your priority list, you may have to start sourcing from farther afield.

The fate of Saanich farmers whose livelihood is threatened by higher taxes is in the hands of a newly-appointed farm review panel.

The 10-member panel was appointed to evaluate B.C. Assessment’s decision to reclassify 97 Saanich farms as split farm-residential, resulting in significant tax hikes for the farmers.

Many of these farms are organic, though not one of the panelists farms organically, said Lana Popham, an outspoken advocate for small lot farms and owner of the Barking Dog Vineyard in Saanich. Organic farms need to be represented on the panel because their methods are what’s under question, she said.

To preserve a functioning ecosystem, organic farmers often retain some forest land on their property. Because this section of land is not directly used for agricultural purposes, B.C. Assessment classified it as residential for the 2007 assessment year.

Saanich mayor Frank Leonard, who co-chairs the panel, said organic farmers will have plenty of opportunity to give their input during public consultation, expected to begin in early summer. In choosing the panel, he and the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue prioritized representation across the province, rather than by types of farming.

“In terms of what people grow or how they grow wasn’t a criterion,” said Leonard. “(Popham) is being very unrealistic to think we were going to be able to accomplish that ... We don’t have anybody representing sour grapes either.”

Leonard said he hopes the panel comes up with a tax structure that inspires rather than punishes farmers.

“Farming is an important part of the economy but it’s also one of the values that we cherish within this province.”

On Feb. 29, Minister Rick Thorpe announced the nine panelists, with a tenth to be announced mid-month. The panel comprises two representatives of B.C. Assessment (a board member and former appraiser), two elected officials (the mayor of Richmond and the regional director of the Peace River district) and five farmers (four livestock and one agri-tourism).

The panel will conclude its review by July 31, 2009 which means its recommendations won’t be on time to influence the 2008 tax year. While the panel can make interim suggestions, Saanich MLA David Cubberley is concerned farmers may end up paying higher split-class taxes for the 2007 and 2008 tax years.

“It would be absolutely unacceptable for it to continue into another assessment cycle and for people to pay this money,” said Cubberley. “Some people will be driven out. That’s just a fact.”

In the meantime, most of the reclassified farmers have appealed their property assessments and are awaiting a decision from an independent appeal board, expected in the coming weeks.

To give your feedback to the review panel, e-mail farmassessmentreview@gov.bc.ca.

rholmen@saanichnews.com

Review deadline too late for next year’s tax bills

If fresh, local produce tops your priority list, you may have to start sourcing from farther afield.

The fate of Saanich farmers whose livelihood is threatened by higher taxes is in the hands of a newly-appointed farm review panel.

The 10-member panel was appointed to evaluate B.C. Assessment’s decision to reclassify 97 Saanich farms as split farm-residential, resulting in significant tax hikes for the farmers.

Many of these farms are organic, though not one of the panelists farms organically, said Lana Popham, an outspoken advocate for small lot farms and owner of the Barking Dog Vineyard in Saanich. Organic farms need to be represented on the panel because their methods are what’s under question, she said.

To preserve a functioning ecosystem, organic farmers often retain some forest land on their property. Because this section of land is not directly used for agricultural purposes, B.C. Assessment classified it as residential for the 2007 assessment year.

Saanich mayor Frank Leonard, who co-chairs the panel, said organic farmers will have plenty of opportunity to give their input during public consultation, expected to begin in early summer. In choosing the panel, he and the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue prioritized representation across the province, rather than by types of farming.

“In terms of what people grow or how they grow wasn’t a criterion,” said Leonard. “(Popham) is being very unrealistic to think we were going to be able to accomplish that ... We don’t have anybody representing sour grapes either.”

Leonard said he hopes the panel comes up with a tax structure that inspires rather than punishes farmers.

“Farming is an important part of the economy but it’s also one of the values that we cherish within this province.”

On Feb. 29, Minister Rick Thorpe announced the nine panelists, with a tenth to be announced mid-month. The panel comprises two representatives of B.C. Assessment (a board member and former appraiser), two elected officials (the mayor of Richmond and the regional director of the Peace River district) and five farmers (four livestock and one agri-tourism).

The panel will conclude its review by July 31, 2009 which means its recommendations won’t be on time to influence the 2008 tax year. While the panel can make interim suggestions, Saanich MLA David Cubberley is concerned farmers may end up paying higher split-class taxes for the 2007 and 2008 tax years.

“It would be absolutely unacceptable for it to continue into another assessment cycle and for people to pay this money,” said Cubberley. “Some people will be driven out. That’s just a fact.”

In the meantime, most of the reclassified farmers have appealed their property assessments and are awaiting a decision from an independent appeal board, expected in the coming weeks.

To give your feedback to the review panel, e-mail farmassessmentreview@gov.bc.ca.

rholmen@saanichnews.com