Editor, the Times:

Cursed war and racking tax

Have left us scarcely raiment to our backs.

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)

Now that the time approaches when we get our property assessments and tax notices, I again wonder why some of us have to pay four and five times higher property taxes than others.

It seems that if you can manage to get the label 'farm' attached to your property you are immediately entitled to a significant tax reduction.

This does not only apply to the land that you ostensibly 'farm' but to your house as well. A reduction of property tax on some of these questionable farms is bad enough.

But what does the house have to do with farming?

Why should not all houses of equal value be taxed equally?

As far as these so-called farms go, the term is definitely misplaced. Most of the 'hobby' farms do not produce any useful products.

They are only for the entertainment of their owners, who are mostly quite rich and should be willing to pay their fair share towards the operation of the municipality. Many of these 'farms' maintain a few horses, mainly for the pleasure of their owners.

Why should the rest of us subsidize these people?

I don't dislike horses, nor do I have anything against riding, but please, do it at your own expense!

Some of the other 'farms' don't do as much farming as I do in my garden, yet I have to pay higher taxes so they can pay less.

It is high time that our antiquated property tax laws be revised and made more equitable. The definition of a farm needs to be changed to distinguish true farms from hobby farms and other tax dodging entities. Houses should be taxed on their market value, farm or no farm.

Nobody should have special privileges and enjoy benefits at the expense of others.

Ed Pankratz Abbotsford