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COUNTY COUNCIL HEARING <br /> DATE AUGUST 28, 1998 <br /> TESTIMONY: ADA PULIN-LAMME <br /> Thank you for coming to Honokaa and taking the time to listen to our pleas and azguments. <br /> Does the Mayor's proposal to exchange the land in reality benefit the people of the island of <br /> Hawaii to-day or even in the future ? <br /> Most of us agree that the expansion of parks is worthwhile and certainly will be an asset, <br /> especially if these pazks provide campgrounds and points of interest. But how aze we going to pay <br /> for the expansions ? <br /> The county as it is, does not have enough funds to maintain and keep in good repair our parks, <br /> gyms and other facilities. For now taking on more than we can serve does not seem to make <br /> sense. And with the $10 million outstanding on bringing public areas up to the ADA standards, it <br /> does not look like we will have the money to make the improvements in the neaz future. So what <br /> is left :Land Banking. <br /> Why would we help create a Land Ownership Monopoly for another large company, in this case <br /> Bishop Estate, which akeady owns 39,000 acres in the Hamakua region? A Monopoly means <br /> power and power can easily be misused. <br /> We hear over and over the need to collect Land Taxes on these pazcels. By exchanging the land it <br /> will go to Hamakua Timber, and for two yeazs in a row Hamakua Timber/Prudential Investments <br /> asked for a reduction of the land taxes and was granted a total reduction of $ 730,000, and we <br /> heard they have applied again. The exchange will not result in full taxes being paid, but quite <br /> possibly again substantially reduced rates. In the meantime the county has obtained Bishop Land, <br /> that Bishop is now paying taxes on, I hope, and land banked these pazcels with -O- income on <br /> taxes. Doesn't it make more sense to lease these pazcels to Farmers and Ranchers who will pay <br /> the taxes? <br /> Diversified Agriculture is growing and has become a major economic force in the State of Hawaii. <br /> By making these lands available for Diversified Ag it will give many people the opportunity to be <br /> independent and self sustainable. I recently heard that Doc Buyers spoke about the millions of <br /> years it took to build up the deep soils of Hamakua, and his advice is: Plant and grow food on it ! <br /> Farmers and Ranchers live on this island; most of them have no intent to go elsewhere; they aze <br /> taxpayers; they aze connected to the land and they aze hazd workers and they aze willing and ready <br /> to work the land. <br /> PLEASE SUPPORT DOMRVIC YAGONG'S PROPOSED RESOLUTION. <br /> <br /> MAHALO. ^N <br /> Cows. Nw <br /> F11e No. ~ L ~ <br /> Presenter/ .F <br /> Ref. To: <br /> Rat. Date 0 1 <br /> <br />