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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> DATE: February 6, 2018 Re: Comm. No. 728/Res. No. 488-18 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 10:04 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 488-18,reports as follows: <br /> Resolution 488-18, transmitted by Council Member Maile David, via Communication No. 728 <br /> dated January 26, 2018, supports Senate Bill No. 3088 extending the period within which a <br /> county may adopt a surcharge on state tax under certain conditions, from March 31, 2018, to <br /> September 30, 2018. <br /> This proposed extension would provide counties who have not already established a surcharge <br /> on state tax additional time to receive public input, conduct the required public hearing, and <br /> determine whether or not to establish such a surcharge set forth in Act 001. <br /> Committee Chair Maile David stated that she feels this measure will show the senate that we are <br /> supportive of their efforts to extend and if they do, it will extend our time to make this important <br /> decision. <br /> Council Member Susan Lee Loy inquired whether there is a companion house bill to this senate <br /> bill and whether a hearing date has yet been scheduled. Chair David stated that a hearing has not <br /> yet been set for Senate Bill 3088. Ms. David commented it would be great if we could have a <br /> little more time. <br /> Ms. Lee Loy spoke against this because she refuses, as a leader, to give anyone false hope or <br /> mislead people. <br /> Council Member Eileen O'Hara stated that we would not know the outcome until the end of <br /> April and we are basically unable to take this bill back in this cycle. Ms. O'Hara has submitted <br /> testimony in support of extensions but not sure, as a body, we are sending a mix message. It is <br /> not clear what we are trying to get from the legislature in this regard. <br /> Council Chair Valerie T. Poindexter does not see any harm in support this. The legislature may <br /> want to expedite it seeing that we had a negative vote. It is not a sign of false hope, it shows the <br /> people that we support the extension and it may give us more time with our people. <br /> Council Member Aaron Chung is against this measure. To be able to do things between now and <br /> September to change the vote, is not possible. We all knew that our master transit system was <br /> not good so this only confirms what we already knew. <br /> FC Report No. 77 <br />