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Cou&cit. <br /> PU. 1 IG <br /> C,Oit4M 91 <br /> Murashige, Laura b-ILLImo <br /> I <br /> From: Janice Palma-Glennie <palmtree7@earthlink.net> -r•;- <br /> Sent: Monday, May 15, 2017 9:55 AM --� <br /> To: Council Testimony <br /> Subject: Property tax increases -11 <br /> Aloha council members, <br /> I'm writing regarding plans to raise property taxes to overcome county shortfalls. <br /> • Paying less than $100 per year for property tax makes little sense since processing the paperwork must cost the <br /> county half of that. But doubling the rate of someone paying$100 to$200/year doesn't seem fair. We understood <br /> that the rate increase would be 6.5%across the board. <br /> • For low and lower middle income people, it's extreme to raise the rate 6.5% in one swoop.And raising it by that much <br /> could be a precursor to yet more increases—this already being the third in only 7 years. <br /> • Some people feel they're getting good value for their property tax dollar compared to places on the Mainland. <br /> However, in places with high taxes like where my family lives,services are far greater including trash pick up,sewer, <br /> excellent schools,etc.etc.. <br /> • It's good to get as much tax revenue as possible from the very upper echelon of home owners(particularly in places <br /> like Kukio, Mauria Lani, etc)where an increase could be the equivalent of dinner out for a well-to-do family of four or <br /> less than roundtrip tickets from one of their other homes to their Hawai'l home. <br /> • it's correct to have exemptions for age, income,and value of property. However,just because someone is older, <br /> doesn't mean they should pay less tax.They may have a far higher total of available funds and assets than younger <br /> people,especially those with children or eldercare responsibilities. <br /> • Maintaining affordable tax rates may be the most important factor for lower and lower-middle income people to <br /> hang on to homes they already own. <br /> • Kona residents often pay more and sometimes earn the same or less than their East Hawai'l counterparts,yet they <br /> may be penalized by appraised values of their homes even though they have no intention to sell now or far into the <br /> future. <br /> • Depending upon raising property taxes to pay for county obligations is a bad road to go down.There are other, more <br /> fair ways to increase necessary funding(i.e., increasing^TAT, having private jet owners who land at island airports pay <br /> $5000 or higher for that privilege—suggested by former councilman Kelly Greenwell,etc). <br /> Mahalo and sincerely, <br /> Janice and Alastair Glennie <br /> Kailua-Kona <br /> e011117/ No. Y <br /> Ref. To: <br />