Greenhouses should pay more tax, councillor suggests

One Leamington councillor is trying to come up with a way to make up for a decline in property tax revenue.

The municipality faces a $200,000 shortfall due, it says, to lower property assessment values.

"We've been met with a number of challenges here in Leamington. We has a council have to look at ways and means to make up for that loss in assessment," Coun. Rick Atkin said.

So, he wants to increase the property tax rate for greenhouse operators. Currently, greenhouse operations are considered and taxed as farms.

"The size of the plants, greater road infrastructure leading into the plant, sewage and water needs are different [for greenhouses]. We need to take a look at that," Atkin said. "The operation has changed. We don't refer to them as greenhouses. We refer to them as plants. If you think about that, it's a reference to a factory."

Several greenhouses now grow, weigh, package and ship their product on site.

"That takes on a much greater connotation than what a greenhouse operation used to be," Atkin said. "

Atkin said some Leamington residents have told him greenhouses have more demands on resources now than ever before so, the property tax the owners pay should reflect that.

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