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Margaret Wille Council Member District 9 - ,vorth and South Kohala Phone No. Hilo: (808) 961 -8027 Phone No. Waimea: (808) 887 -2043 Fax No.: (808) 887 -2072 E -Mail: mwille @co.hawaii.hi.us o n HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL ID County of 'Hawai `i —' pw -. Hawaii County Building Holomua Center West Hawaii Civic Center Bldg. ;4 25. iupuni Street 64 -1067 Vamalahoa Highway, Suite C -5 74-5044 rine KeohMlole Hwu. -= ttilo, Hawaii 96720 lfaimea, Hawaii 96713 Koilua -Kona, llawai'i ,967747 ; N -- STATUS REPORT FROM THE REAL PROPERTY TAX STAKEHOLDERS TASK FORCE October 30, 2014 The Real Property Tax Stakeholders' Task Force met a total of 13 times with Co- Chairs Council Member Margaret Wille and Council Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi and 3 members from the general public, Robert Price, Stewart Hussey and Al Inoue. The Task Force worked in collaboration with the Finance Department. The Task Force adopted a Statement of Task Force Goals, a copy of which is attached to this report. The focus of the Task Force was review and selective implementation of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) recommendations with an emphasis on addressing the most prominent loopholes in the County's current real property tax program. The Task Force also considered legislation referred by the Council as well as a Task Force Member initiated consideration for a real property tax program to support startup businesses. Legislation reviewed and recommended: Reviewed and amended Bill 71 regarding real property taxes, liens, foreclosures, and notice. Bill No. 71 proposes to reduce the number of years required to foreclose on a property for delinquent real property taxes from three years to two years. To provide the Administration with some flexibility on the timing of the disposition of foreclosed properties, the Task force suggested an amendment to change Section 19 -38(a) to say that properties "may" be sold rather than "shall" be sold by way of foreclosure. The Task Force supports Bill No. 71 with amendments. Bill 71, Draft 2 passed first reading at Council on 10- 15 -14. Reviewed and amended Bill 103 regarding the real property tax exemption for persons who are blind, deaf, and /or totally disabled. To be consistent with other language related to exemptions for homeowners, the Task Force suggested amending the bill to specify that the owner "is qualified for the homeowner exemption ", rather than refer only to the owner's "principle home ". The Task Force supports Bill No. 103 with the proposed changes. Bill 103, Draft 2 passed first reading at Council on 10- 15 -14. Reviewed Bill 185 regarding the addition of a "certified organic operations" agricultural classification to the list of agricultural activities in the commercial agricultural use dedication program and the non - dedicated agricultural use assessment program. While there was recognition that certified organic farming carries with it added production costs, concern was expressed that the Serving the Interests of the People of'Our Island Hawaii County Is An Equal Opportunity Provider And Employer