BIL 126 Draft 01 2014-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNTY OF HAWAII JN�V^GF M!I�. �i • STATE OF HAWAII 7Tt OF•MF,i� BILL NO. 126 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 19, ARTICLE 7, SECTION 19-57 AND ADDING NEW SECTIONS TO CHAPTER 19, ARTICLE 8 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2005 EDITION, AS AMENDED), RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM REAL PROPERTY TAX BY WAY OF DEDICATION OF LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL USE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII: SECTION 1. Findings and purpose. The purpose of the agricultural use assessment program is to encourage continual and committed agricultural use of lands, by affording those engaged in farming a substantial break in real property taxes. In order to better achieve this purpose, the Council finds it necessary to phase out the nondedicated agricultural use assessment program and replace that program with a short-term dedicated agricultural use assessment program. This ordinance provides for a three-year transition period to provide ample opportunity to implement the transition to the new short-term agricultural use dedication program or to the existing ten year dedicated agricultural use program. This phase out period provides an opportunity for those seeking to participate in the short-term agricultural use dedication program to make any necessary adjustments in their farming operations. This ordinance will also allow owners of agriculturally zoned vacant land, who do not participate in one of the agricultural use dedication programs but who intend to preserve agriculturally zoned vacant land, the option of participating in the vacant land program based on a 70% of the market value property tax valuation. As of January 1, 2018, those parcels not in the three-year or ten year dedicated agricultural use programs or in the agriculturally zoned vacant land program, shall thereafter be assessed at market value. SECTION 2. Chapter 19, article 7, section 19-57 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as amended), is amended to read as follows: