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<br />COUNTY OF HAWAI'I <br /> <br /> <br />STATE OF HAWAI'I <br /> <br />RESOLUTION NO. <br /> <br />293 1.0 <br /> <br />A RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO <br />SUPPORT THE CONTINUED FUNDING OF TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS <br />T AX REVENUES TO THE COUNTIES AT CURRENT LEVELS. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, pursuant to Hawai'i Revised Statutes, Chapter 237D, the Transient <br />Accommodations Tax (TAT) is imposed in the State of Hawai'i on certain rental activity, <br />such as a hotel room, apartment, condominium, house, beach house, or similar living <br />accommodation that is rented for less than I80-consecutive days; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the TAT helps to cover expenses associated with tourism and the impact <br />it has on the islands; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, on any given day, about 25,000 visitors are on the Big Island utilizing <br />the services that the County provides, such as police, fire, lifeguards, parks, water, mass <br />transit, solid waste disposal, and many other services that our visitors enjoy; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, these essential services are provided as part of our agreement with the <br />State: We, the County and our taxpayers, share in the costs associated with those visitors and, <br />in return, we receive some reimbursement via the TAT; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, although the State is struggling to balance its budget, the counties are <br />going through the same difficulties and are only seeking to retain their fair share of the TAT <br />revenues; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, pursuant to Hawai'i Revised Statutes, S237D-6.5, subsection (b), <br />paragraph (3), 44.8 per cent of the revenues collected from the TAT shall be transferred to the <br />four counties, and of that 44.8 per cent, Hawai'i County shall receive 18.6 per cent; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the TAT is Hawai'i County's second largest source of revenue, and <br />removing it will put a tremendous burden on our residents; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, with Hawai'i County already facing an approximate budget shortfall of <br />$45 million, the complete elimination of TAT revenues will have dire consequences on our <br />operating budget and will result in the need to curtail and possibly eliminate services that will <br />negatively impact the public health, safety and welfare of our community; now, therefore, <br />