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The High. Cost Of Hawaii County Government <br /> Fred House' May, 2017 <br /> Why has the cost of Hawaii County government increased at a rate of <br /> more than 3 times the rate of population growth since 2000? <br /> While the population of Hawaii Island has increased by 35% from 2000 <br /> to 2017,. the Hawaii County Operating budget has ballooned by 179%. <br /> At a campaign forum in Kona last year, Mr. Kim strongly criticized <br /> Mayor Kenoi's budget for 2016 as "bloated and out of control" (which <br /> he would correct if elected). <br /> Mayor Kim now wants to increase that "bloated and out of control" <br /> budget by 29. million dollars for 2017-2018. <br /> Please refer to the attached spreadsheet A for details. <br /> In January 2017, Mayor Kim stated there would be no increase in real <br /> property tax rates this year. <br /> In February, he said there may be real"property tax rate increases. <br /> In March, Mayor Kim said there be increases in real property tax <br /> rates for 2017-2018. <br /> In May, Mayor Kim announced there would be across the board real <br /> property tax rate increases of 6.5% for all property classes except <br /> affordable rental. <br /> With this rate increase, there have been four rate increases from 2008. <br /> Tax rates have increased up to 50% depending on the real property <br /> class. <br />