Laserfiche WebLink
DATE: February 2, 2010 <br />PLACE: Councilroom <br />TIME: 9:12 a.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawai`i County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />Re: Comm. No. 684/Bill No. 200 <br />Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 200, reports as follows: <br />Bill No. 200, transmitted by Finance Director Nancy Crawford via Communication No. 684, <br />dated January 21, 2010, amends Chapter 19, Article 12, Sections 19 -100 and 19 -101, of the <br />Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), by increasing the deposit amount and <br />limiting the refunds of those deposits which accompany appeals to the Real Property Tax Board <br />of Review. <br />This bill proposes to increase the deposit amount from $15 to $25 and to limit refunds of that <br />amount to situations where the Board of Review accepts the taxpayer's appeal value without <br />compromise. Refunds will also be made in cases where adjustments are necessary due to clerical <br />errors. The additional amount will better offset the cost of handling appeals and it should also <br />reduce the number of frivolous appeals. <br />Finance Director Nancy Crawford said the current $15 fee does not cover the costs associated <br />with the processing of appeals. Real Property Tax Administrator Stan Sitko further clarified a <br />$25 fee should cover most of the direct costs, including the average $11.50 for certified mailing <br />and the $22,500 budgeted for Board activities, but not the salaries and clerical costs of <br />preparation. <br />Council Member Ford said it does not seem fair that the applicant is not refunded at least a <br />portion of the fee if the appeal is compromised. She stated her intention to draft an amendment <br />to Bill 200 reflecting this. <br />Council Member Hoffmann said he will bring forward an amendment changing the fee to $50 as <br />recommended by the Real Property Tax Board of Review. <br />Your Committee on Finance is in accordance with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 200 and <br />recommends it pass first reading. <br />kk <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />DENNIS "FRESH ' ONISHI, CHAIR <br />FC REPORT NO. 139 <br />ADOPTED: FEB 1 A ?G1C <br />AYES <br />NOES <br />A &E <br />EX <br />ENRIQUES <br />X <br />FORD <br />X <br />GREENWELL <br />X <br />HOFFMANN <br />X <br />IKEDA <br />X <br />NAEOLE <br />X <br />ONISHI <br />X <br />YAGONG <br />X <br />YOSHIMOTO <br />X <br />DATE: February 2, 2010 <br />PLACE: Councilroom <br />TIME: 9:12 a.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawai`i County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />Re: Comm. No. 684/Bill No. 200 <br />Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 200, reports as follows: <br />Bill No. 200, transmitted by Finance Director Nancy Crawford via Communication No. 684, <br />dated January 21, 2010, amends Chapter 19, Article 12, Sections 19 -100 and 19 -101, of the <br />Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), by increasing the deposit amount and <br />limiting the refunds of those deposits which accompany appeals to the Real Property Tax Board <br />of Review. <br />This bill proposes to increase the deposit amount from $15 to $25 and to limit refunds of that <br />amount to situations where the Board of Review accepts the taxpayer's appeal value without <br />compromise. Refunds will also be made in cases where adjustments are necessary due to clerical <br />errors. The additional amount will better offset the cost of handling appeals and it should also <br />reduce the number of frivolous appeals. <br />Finance Director Nancy Crawford said the current $15 fee does not cover the costs associated <br />with the processing of appeals. Real Property Tax Administrator Stan Sitko further clarified a <br />$25 fee should cover most of the direct costs, including the average $11.50 for certified mailing <br />and the $22,500 budgeted for Board activities, but not the salaries and clerical costs of <br />preparation. <br />Council Member Ford said it does not seem fair that the applicant is not refunded at least a <br />portion of the fee if the appeal is compromised. She stated her intention to draft an amendment <br />to Bill 200 reflecting this. <br />Council Member Hoffmann said he will bring forward an amendment changing the fee to $50 as <br />recommended by the Real Property Tax Board of Review. <br />Your Committee on Finance is in accordance with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 200 and <br />recommends it pass first reading. <br />kk <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />DENNIS "FRESH ' ONISHI, CHAIR <br />FC REPORT NO. 139 <br />ADOPTED: FEB 1 A ?G1C <br />