2024-04-01 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 Kerrilll and Don Kephart Testimony

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From: don keohartCcbearthI ink.net To: WPCtestimonv Subject: Bill121 Date: Monday,April 1, 2024 1:29:56 PM Kerrill and Don Kephart PO Box 44305 Kamuela, HI 96743 808-882-7321 808-345-0301 Donkephart(@earthlink.net We would like to testify once again regarding proposed legislation to regulate STVRs. We really don't need more hoops to jump through and more fees to pay. When you combine the state's TAT, the county's TAT, and the GET, we are being taxed at almost 20% of our gross (not net) receipts. We have one hosted STVR, and we have never had a neighbor or a guest file a complaint. We take good care of our vacation house and we keep our rates relatively low. Two retired public schoolteachers, we need the extra income and built the property with that in mind when we chose to retire in a state with such a high cost of living. We suspect that many of the STVR owners are in a similar situation. How would you like to have your business arbitrarily cut off at the knees? If you drive out the STVRs, you are going to limit the ability of research groups, church and temple groups, working groups, medical groups, wedding groups, etc. to house people who need to be here for short periods of time. Most of all you are going to thwart family groups who come to enjoy what we have here and to have some time with one another. To deny these people access to this style of housing is antithetical to the whole idea of the "Aloha" state. Finally, the financial impact is going to be far-reaching. Guests staying in STVRs are not likely to switch to staying in impersonal hotels and resort condos with inflated rates. They will simply go elsewhere. One STVR helps support grocery stores, gas stations, Urgent Care centers, tourist attractions, restaurants, car rentals, boutiques, beauty shops, spas, art galleries, and many other