COM 0257.003 2000-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~gv~os M,~4 ~L~ ~Ji Harry Kim :4 Dixie Kaetsu Mayor Managing Director "'`a+j9'~ Peter T. Young Deputy Managing Director ~Dttr~tp ~f ~~~f `t 25 Aupuni Street, Room 215 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103 • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808)329-5226 • Fax(808)326-5663 June 28, 2001 The Honorable Aaron Chung, Chairman, and Members of the Committee on Finance - Hawai'i County Council County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii 9b720 - Subject: Bill 93, Relating to the Minimum Tax Dear Chairman Chung and Committee Members: ' On the agenda for the July 5, 2001 Finance Committee meeting is a bill proposing to amend the Hawaii County Code to raise the minimum tax on real property. I am glad to see the Council is tackling this very difficult issue, and I thank you for doing this. I would like to request that you consider deferring action on Bill 93 at the July 5 meeting. I have been meeting with my finance staff, and we are working to gather data and develop a proposal relating to the minimum tax that we can present to you by the end of August. There are numerous issues relating to the minimum tax that need to be addressed. These include: • What is an appropriate, fair, and equitable minimum tax amount • How to structure any increase to mitigate the impact on senior citizens on fixed income, the disabled, and low-income residents • Minimum tax for useless land inundated by lava • Minimum tax on the land assessment of Hawaiian Home Lands residential leases Due to the importance of this topic and the many issues involved, I ask for your consideration in deferring Bill 93. I apologize for the lateness of this request, but we need additional time to explore this issue fully and understand its implications on the people who will be most affected. By the end of summer, we will submit a proposal to you and work with you to develop a minimum tax bill that will be fair and equitable to all Hawaii County taxpayers. Comm. No. ~ ~ Pile No. ~ ' Ref. To: mot. Date SUN 8 2