33
farm406
Recently the Lightners received an updated property
assessment which was outrageously higher than previous
assessments. e Agawam Oasis is now being assessed as a
commercial business when, so far, the Lightners haven't even
made a concerted effort to set up a schedule for renting the
facility. ey are still at the stage of determining whether it is
worth renting out the family retreat. What they received for
the three rentals hasn't begun to cover the cost of mowing,
watering, and maintaining the property. All three rentals were
done as a favor to those who knew about the facility.
e Lightners are aware that many other value-added
ventures are taxed when there is a net income, but in
this situation, it appears that they will be taxed on the
improvement to their property regardless of whether any
income is generated.
Property taxes in our counties pay for schools, health
departments, emergency and fire services, and roads, to
name a few departments that depend on property taxes.
"We recognize and support that, but the Agawam Oasis
has not had a chance to become a business and should not
be considered commercial until such time that it is fully
established," said Lightner.
As of press time, Tom Lightner will be discussing this
issue with the assessor, and he possibly will be appealing
the assessment with the appeal board. Somewhere in this
dilemma a balance will be worked out, or farmers, like the
Lightners, will hesitate about using energy, time, and money
to improve their property with a business venture in mind.
Adding value to a farm is a win-win situation. With added
traffic into a community, each business venture can impact
more than the one enterprise.
An attendee of a recent farm tour, held by
Great Falls Chamber of Commerce and Cargill,
enjoying the water and dock at Agawam Oasis.
Photo
by
Suzanne
Waring
