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<br /> ' 05;'Z4iL995 09:51 9533291 HI GuUNTY COUNCIL FatiE 111 <br /> Oa~e a of ~ <br /> Post-il` Fax Note 7671 vageL ~ ~ <br /> From y. <br /> ro G~~ 1 1 \1~ <br /> ' coloeptt Ja co. <br /> Pt~~~. d ~ _ o • _ STATE OF HAWAII <br /> FBY M ~ ~ FLY A <br /> ppp; lyf- Yuc.v~ <v~nS BILL NO. 255 <br /> (Draft <br /> ORDINANCE NO. ?1 <br /> ORDL:~~iA:~CE .~„~7E~IDING CH:'\PTER l9 OF THE ItA~V?1I COI~'NTI~' CODE 1983 <br /> (1945 EDITIOti). RELATINCr TO ftE.al, PROPERTY TAX ASSE$Sb1ENTS OF NATIVE. <br /> FORESTS <br /> BE IT ORD.4LtiED BY THL- COU\CIL OF THE COL;vTY OF HAWAII. <br /> SECTIOti I Findings and Purpose. The Council finds that County's agricultural tax <br /> assessment system contains an incentive to cut down or graze native forests in order to receive a <br /> lower tae assessment. This :ncenuve has led to massive deforestation on the Bland of Hawaii, <br /> which has contributed to the extinction of hundreds of plant species found nowhere else in the <br /> world, the loss of top soil, and the loss of watershed. <br /> lu order to removc this tax incentive, "Native Foresu" has been added' [o the <br /> "Agricultural" tax classification. Furthermore, land that qualifies in the "Native Foresu" clais <br /> shall be given the lowest assessment for which the same land would otherwise qualify. The goal <br /> is to remove financial incentives within the County's [axing politics to cut down or degrade our <br /> remaining native foresu, without jeopardizing the Couny's revenue base. <br /> Additionally, the Council wishes to encourage the restoration of native forests by <br /> allowing the owners of land in pasture that do not currently meet the criteria of an existing <br /> native forest to bring the land in conformance with the criteria within a specified tune without <br /> beintz penalized by a hiu.,lter tax assessment. This measure also provides relief for native forests- <br /> destroyed by fire, hurricane or other disasters during a dedication period. <br /> Finally, a ne~v section establishing native forest dedication procedures is prpposed for a <br /> period of twenty yearn and the land would be taxed at fifty percent of iu assessed value. This <br /> provides a tremendous incentive for preservationisu and demonstrates the County's commitment <br /> to maintaining our forest lands. <br /> The combination of removing detrimental tax incentives and replacing them with <br /> pestttve incentives should further the protection and restoration of native forests :n the Cuunt•: of <br /> Hawaii <br /> <br />