COM 0257.007 2000-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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P. O. I3ox 817 Volcano, HI 96785 July 5, 2001 Harry Kim 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Mayor Kim, This is in regard to bill #95, concerning the raising of the minimum tax from $25 to $100. I would like to get my input into the study you are making on the topic. As you know, I own property in the former Kalapana Gardens-2 plots to be exact. My tax bill for these properties will rise from $50 to $200. I would be happy to pay that amount if I could officially locate my properties and be able to start plantings on it. Until the county and subdivision roads are surveyed, however, the cost of surveying my properties will be prohibitive. I have read about possible special allowances being made for lava victims but I gave testimony at the council meeting the last time the minimum tax was raised. I got the feeling then that no one was listening, and obviously no one was, since no special exemption was made for us. Since I own several other properties, I pay my share for county services, but the tax on the Kalapana properties reeks of "taxation without representation." Should this tax increase be passed, I will follow the only recourse open to me. I will refuse to pay it. The properties are currently useless to me. Multiply my action by 1000's more who feel as I do or perhaps cannot pay it, and the raise in taxes can be negligible. What do I suggest? If it really costs $40 to process the paperwork (why it should in this day of electronic advances, I wonder), double the tax to $50. Even that will raise an outcry, but increasing the minimum to 4 times the current level is an outrage that will elicit responses such as mine. Sincerely, k Lm Made Moulds Carr cc: James Arakaki and council members Aaron Chung, chairman, Finance Committer, Comm. No, ~ / ? ~ l~f. Date