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DATE: August 5, 2025 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Hilo, Hawaii <br />TIME: 1:02 p.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />Re: Comm. No. 203/Bill No. 38 <br />Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 38, reports as follows: <br />Bill No. 38, transmitted by Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder via Communication <br />No. 203, dated March 18, 2025, amends Chapter 19, Article 13, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 <br />(2016 Edition, as amended), relating to Real Property Tax Credits. <br />This bill establishes a Private Road Tax Credit of up to $500 to be applied towards a homeowner's real <br />property tax bill when the homeowner expends at least $100 annually to maintain, repair, or improve a <br />private roadway that is not restricted by a gate and is managed by a road maintenance organization. <br />Finance Committee Meeting of April 15, 2025 <br />Real Property Tax Administrator Lisa Miura, Assistant Administrator Keita Jo, and Finance Director <br />Diane Nakagawa were available for questions. <br />Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder provided a detailed overview of Bill 38 stating that this <br />bill was modeled after the solar hot water bill. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder thanked Ms. Miura and the <br />Real Property Tax (RPT) Division for assisting him and also acknowledged that Ms. Nakagawa was not <br />"in love" with this bill. <br />Ms. Miura explained that the bill as it's currently written would be a lot of work for her department, <br />which is currently short-staffed. Committee Members expressed their understanding of the maker's <br />intention of the bill and also shared their concerns regarding the mechanics of this bill. Committee <br />Member Michelle Galimba expressed her sensitivity towards adding more responsibility to the RPT staff <br />given their recent workload increase. Committee Member Rebecca Villegas stated that her district <br />includes several private subdivisions that are privately maintained and asked if this tax credit would <br />apply to them and whether they would qualify. Ms. Miura responded that they would qualify if the <br />subdivision is not gated. <br />Bill No. 38 was postponed to June 3, 2025. <br />Finance Committee Meeting of June 3, 2025 <br />Bill No. 38 was postponed to June 17, 2025. <br />FC Report No. 77 <br />