Pay more for farmland

Dear Editor: I was appalled at the letter Julia Hargreaves wrote bemoaning her accountant friend who couldn’t sleep because of the new proposed water rate hike (Courier, Nov. 20). She stated that her “poor” (I inserted that) accountant friend’s water rate would go up to $1,600 by 2021, and stated that that was almost the cost of his property tax. Who pays only $1,600 in property tax if you are living in Lakeview? Nobody does, unless you’re a farmer.

She goes on to say that he has fruit trees (aha!), vegetable garden, hedges, etc.. Farmers get a reduction in taxes up to 7/8 the assessed value. We have to assume that he has applied for this reduction (smart accountant).

However, on Nov. 19, there was an article in the Courier (“BCFGA wants no Fake Farmers”) about the BCFGA wanting annual sales of farm grown products to go from a minimum of $2,000 to a minimum of $15,000 for membership. This would be the new threshold for being able to claim farm status.

Let’s hope so because too many wealthy people (1,000 or so,including the said accountant) are using this loophole to diminish the amount of taxes they really should be paying.

So maybe her accountant friend should quit his hobby farm, saving on his increasing water bill and pay the full pop on his taxes. He might get more sleep, or maybe not.

R. Frasson West Kelowna