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REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />DATE: February 18, 2025 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br />TIME: 1:31 p.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Re: Comm. No. 96/13ill No. 23 <br />Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 23, reports as follows: <br />Bill No. 23, transmitted by Committee Member James Hustace via Communication No. 96, dated <br />January 9, 2025, amends Chapter 19, Article 1, Section 19-2 and Article 8, Section 19-61 of the <br />Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), relating to Short -Term Commerical <br />Agricultural Use Dedication. <br />This bill increases the term length requirements for the Short -Term Commercial Agricultural Use <br />Dedication property tax assessment program from three to five years. <br />Finance Committee Meeting of February 4, 2025 <br />Real Property Tax Administrator Lisa Miura and Assistant Administrator Keita Jo were in attendance <br />and available for questions. <br />Committee Member James Hustace provided background on this measure stating that he saw a need <br />to change the term length from three to five years to offer farmers more time to cultivate their land <br />before reapplying for this program. <br />Committee Member Heather Kimball asked that this measure be postponed to the next committee <br />meeting to allow the members time to speak with community members as no testifiers were present to <br />comment on this matter. <br />Multiple Committee Members commented in support of a postponement. <br />Committee Member Holeka Inaba asked Ms. Miura to comment on the amendment. Ms. Miura <br />commented that it is concerning when a Real Property Tax matter is before the committee, and there <br />are no testifiers. Ms. Miura further added taht postponing this matter would allow her to speak with <br />Mr. Hustace. <br />Committee Member Michelle Galimba stated that the flexibility of the three-year period is valuable to <br />some applicants. <br />The committee unanimously voted to postpone Bill No. 23 to February 18, 2025. <br />Finance Committee Meeting of February 18, 2025 <br />Real Property Tax Administrator Lisa Miura and Assistant Administrator Keita Jo were in attendance <br />and available for questions. <br />Committee Member James Hustace provided background on this matter. <br />FC Report No. 28 <br />