A controversial property assessment has put a Nanaimo cidery in a tricky situation, and the owner is fighting back. Colin Rombough, who owns Big Bang Cidery, is facing a potential tax hike due to a recent reclassification of his farmland. But here's where it gets interesting: Rombough's property has been reclassified as "light industrial," which could lead to a significant increase in his property taxes.
Rombough argues that this reclassification doesn't align with how other government bodies view his property. He highlights the confusion caused by different branches of government having varying definitions of what constitutes a farm. This inconsistency creates uncertainty for businesses like his, leaving him wondering how to navigate such a complex regulatory landscape.
"Every government organization seems to have its own rules, often contradictory, and they're not even communicating with each other," Rombough said. "It's like they're all speaking different languages."
The building in question, which B.C. Assessment now considers light industrial, is where Rombough washes, sorts, crushes, juices, and stores the apples from his orchard. He emphasizes that the fermentation process used for cider production is natural, not industrial. These activities, he argues, are essential to his farm operation and should be recognized as such.
Rombough's farm is also subject to regulations from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC), which requires him to maintain two hectares of apple orchard to qualify as a "farm cidery." He questions why B.C. Assessment is ignoring these legal realities.
Maurice Primeau, a deputy assessor with B.C. Assessment, explains that alcohol production is considered an excluded use for farm regulations. As a result, the land under and around the building has been removed from the farm classification. Primeau emphasizes that B.C. Assessment relies on the legislation as written and strives for equity in its classifications.
However, Rombough believes that the assessment didn't consider the spirit of the law. He points to dairy farms with large, modern facilities as an example of how different types of farms can be classified. He argues that his small building with basic equipment shouldn't be treated the same as a large winery.
Primeau acknowledges that properties often have multiple classifications and that the reclassification is in line with other commercial wineries. But Rombough disagrees, pointing out the different classifications and regulations within the B.C. Liquor Commission for various winery and cidery operations.
Rombough plans to appeal the B.C. Assessment notice by the February 2 deadline. He hopes to bring attention to the need for clearer and more consistent regulations for farms, especially those with unique operations like his cidery.
And this is the part most people miss: the impact of these regulatory decisions on small businesses. It's a complex issue, and we'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you think Rombough's cidery should be treated differently? Should there be more consistent regulations for farms? Let us know in the comments!
