2024-04-02 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 Ray George Testimony

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From: Rae H George To: W PCtesti mony Subject: Written Testimony re: Bill 121 Date: Tuesday,April 2,2024 11:44:48 AM Subject: Reassessing Bill 121: A Call for Consideration of Short-Term Rental Contributions Chairman Dennis Lin Windward Planning Commission County of Hawaii 25 Au uni St. Unit 1502 Hilo, HI 96720 Aloha Chairman Lin, As a resident of Hawaii and a short-term rental host since December 2011, I am reaching out to express my concerns regarding Bill 121. Over the past 12.5 years, I have not only contributed to the local economy through diligent payment of TA and GE taxes but have also played a significant role in supporting Hawai'i's tourism industry. My efforts have helped thousands of visitors enjoy their staX on he Big Island without the high costs associated with hotel accommodations. The service I provide has been crucial in making Hawaii accessible to a broader audience. This, in turn, has had a positive impact on our local economy. Visitors who stay in short-term rentals like mine contribute to the community by dining in restaurants, purchasing local goods, and participating in paid tours, among other activities. This ripple effect supports a wide ran e of businesses and contributes to the economic vitality of our island. Given the substantial benefits that short-term rentals offer to both the local community and visitors, I am deeply concerned about the potential impacts of Bill 121. 1 fear that the proposed regulations may not onlyjeopardize the livelihoods of hosts like myself but also diminish the accessibility of Hawaii to a broader range of visitors. Therefore, I respectfully request the Planning Commission to consider the followin 1. IConduct an economic impact study to fully understand the contributions of short-term rentals to our econom . FIRecommend the removal of restrictive and invasive registration