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Mayor Roth recently commented about the large amount of revenue the county TAT has brought <br /> in since 2022 <br /> "A relatively substantial part of the budget's revenue comes from the Transient Accommodation Tax <br /> (TAT), which has seen an increase from approximately $19 million pre-county TAT to around $27 million <br /> year-to-date. This increase is a testament to the thriving tourism industry and its substantial contribution <br /> to the local economy." <br /> Yup, we hosted short term rentals DO help bring in a ton of tax revenue to the county. So why <br /> do they want to close every one of them down? Guests love them, and they are needed. There <br /> are not enough hotel rooms on this island to accommodate everyone who wants to visit. <br /> Commissioners, if this bill passes, many of us will simply shut down. We will have no choice. If <br /> the homeowner tax exemption loss didn't get us, the regulation will. <br /> The council and Mayor Roth seem to want it both ways. They want to put us out of <br /> business or pressure us to close while crowing about how much revenue our taxes have <br /> brought in. Between the loss of the homeowner exemption and this pending regulation <br /> meant to obliterate all short term rentals, the handwriting is on the wall. It's just not feasible <br /> or worth doing anymore. <br /> What are they going to do when they get their wish of shutting down every single vacation <br /> rental — even those hosted in their homes by single moms, aunties, uncles, moms, pops, <br /> tutus and grampas—and then they wonder where all the visitors and their tax revenue have <br /> gone? <br /> Hawaii is already getting a reputation of restricting vacation rentals and believe me tourists <br /> are skittish. They will book Mexico, the Caribbean or Costa Rica where they feel more <br /> welcome and are not getting gouged. I would! <br /> Please vote NO to move this bill forward. Or please require there to be an EIS <br /> commissioned so we can understand how much this significant and substantial measure will <br /> impact our fragile economy. <br /> Warm aloha, <br /> / ,� <br /> Kristina Anderson <br /> South Kona I <br />