Agriculture Land Use Criteria

WHEREAS the BC Assessment proposal to remove lands not actively used for agriculture such as rock, wetlands, natural buffers, woodlots and streams from a class 9 agriculture rating to a residential class will increase assessed values and subsequently property taxes on many small farms; AND WHEREAS the preservation of such non-productive lands is often critically important for continued agricultural potential e.g. maintaining organic certification, farm water supply, preservation of buffers, seasonal livestock grazing, location of farm residence and buildings and other agricultural requirements and services of small farms; AND WHEREAS initial experience with reassessment of small lot agriculture has revealed a criteria which do not take account of the characteristics of small farms, and b inconsistent, inaccurate, arbitrary and subjective application of those criteria, raising serious questions of equity and fairness; AND WHEREAS the BC Assessment proposal will have the effect of rendering many small farms uneconomic, forcing many farmers to stop producing at a time when society generally and Vancouver Island population are demanding a sustainable local food production capability: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM notify BC Assessment of its objection to BC Assessments farm assessment policy criteria; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BC Assessment employ personnel with experience and knowledge of agriculture to apply those criteria in practice.