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JrtY Oi...... <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII <br /> RESOLUTION NO. 158 13 <br /> A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE INCLUSION IN THE 2014 HAWAII STATE <br /> ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE A PROPOSED STATE <br /> BILL RELATING TO HIGH STAKES BINGO AS A NEW REVENUE SOURCE. <br /> WHEREAS, both the state and the counties are in need of additional streams of revenue; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, both the state and the counties have made a concerted effort to reduce <br /> expenditures to the maximum extent possible; and <br /> WHEREAS, both the state and counties are reluctant to place additional tax burdens on <br /> individuals and businesses; and <br /> WHEREAS, various casino gambling bills have been proposed in order to raise revenue <br /> but have been defeated for various reasons, including concerns over associated social ills; and <br /> WHEREAS, studies have shown that independent high stakes bingo operations alone do <br /> not attract the negative social concerns associated with full-scale casino gambling; and <br /> WHEREAS, high stakes bingo operations are ordinarily housed in multipurpose <br /> facilities, making those facilities otherwise available for other community events; and <br /> WHEREAS, HR177 (2013 State Legislative Session), which proposed the creation of a <br /> task force to study various forms of gaming, was defeated largely due to the estimated cost of <br /> such a comprehensive study ($850,000); and <br /> WHEREAS, allowing for pilot programs on a county-by-county basis is another way to <br /> assess the pros and cons of any gaming program as a feasible and acceptable means of raising <br /> additional revenue; and <br /> WHEREAS, while the state and counties would prefer not to resort to any form of <br /> gaming in order to raise revenue, legislators on the county councils and in the state legislature <br /> are realistic about the pending short falls of revenue and the need to avoid placing additional tax <br /> burdens on our constituencies; and <br /> WHEREAS, implementation of a high stakes bingo pilot program would result in <br /> significant additional revenue for essential state and county services, without further taxation; <br /> now, therefore, <br />