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``4tI.TE A1C pi e 7 ,I jk P • :.kCou$ Trust Fund (EUTF). He provided a copy of a memo dated July 5, 2017, on the issue (see attached). President Kanuha said he has no problem with anyone advocating on behalf of HSAC. He said HSAC has been pretty staunch in its position of the 45/55 split for TAT. Council Chair White said he thought passing a resolution supporting Oahu's position that funding for rail should be taken care of using the GET would be a mechanism. Maui County Council has passed a resolution to this effect. President Kanuha said he knows Hawaii County is not in favor of an increase in TAT. Vice President said it's easier to support an extension of the status quo, which would be the GET. The Executive Committee requested a one-page summary of talking points on the inaccuracies in the draft presentation and discussed how inaccuracies would be communicated. Secretary Crivello said she would be willing to testify about the HSAC Executive Committee's position, if testimony is allowed on Monday. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion and consideration of extension of the general excise and use tax surcharge for the Honolulu Rail Project. Maui County passed a resolution supporting Honolulu's position, and HSAC has that issue up for discussion. Treasurer Anderson said the Honolulu Council's position is that the fairest and most equitable option to pay for completion of the rail project is through an extension of the GET, an existing tax citizens have become accustomed to paying for over ten years now. He said if we do a combination or rely on an alternative source of revenue, anything other than a GET extension would be considered a new tax. He said GET remains the most viable option. The pool of people who pay GET is vastly larger than the roughly 250,000 real property taxpayers on this island. Treasurer Anderson introduced Resolution 17-208 (see, attached copy), and the Council Chair waived it.and put it on the floor for consideration yesterday, but because the resolution mentioned TAT, two colleagues were concerned that we would upset some State lawmakers. His colleagues wanted the opportunity to discuss this at committee prior to passing it on to the Council. Vice President Kawakami questioned whether there is any value to a press release prior to Monday, saying it wouldn't have to be negative. It could be a statement from HSAC, saying it's pleased the members of the House and Senate have come back to the drawing board to work out any difference remaining at the end of the session, and that HSAC believes there is a fair and equitable way to work out funding on rail, which is through an extension of the GET. We do have some time to formulate a message. Mr. Ishikawa agreed HSAC needs to have a presence at the Capitol on Monday.