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February 21, 2020 <br /> Page 2 <br /> The drafters of our Hawaii Constitution must have understood that it was critical <br /> to the viability of the counties that they have exclusive authority over the property tax. <br /> The drafters provided that "The taxing power shall be reserved to the State, <br /> except...relating to the taxation of real property" which "shall be exercised exclusively <br /> by the counties..." If that wall is breached, severe damage will be done to home rule, <br /> we would be ignoring the progress the counties have made since Statehood, and there <br /> would be a crippling of the State/County partnership that has grown over the years in an <br /> imperfect but meaningful attempt to best serve the 1.41 million people of Hawaii. <br /> None of these arguments are meant to downgrade the importance of <br /> infrastructure to Hawai`i's past, present, and future. I simply ask that further progress <br /> not be made on the backs of the counties which have so few alternate resources to fall <br /> back on. <br /> Please hold SB 2054, SD1. <br /> Respectfully Submitted, <br /> avvu <br /> Harry Ki <br /> f ( <br /> MAYOR <br /> County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br />