2024-04-14 PL-CCI-2024-000003 Bill 121 Glenn Willson & Roberta Etter Testimony

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asking price is much lower than in Kona or Waikola(for instance) and along with lower vacancy rates,the costs of the proposed permits for Hosted Rentals are not sustainable but bringing in the Transient Occupancy Taxes and other tourist dollars into the local economy is not only sustainable but absolutely vital. Many of us are also farmers just trying to stay alive after being dealt so many blows the last few years. For example, the Oceanview area currently has around 200 advertised STR's. If the average occupancy is around 60% and the average nightly room-rate around$150 (both conservative numbers), that equates to 43,800 booked nights and an annual infusion of$5,475,000 into the local economy. This likely makes STR income the single greatest source of income for Ka'u/Oceanview residents and the community. That$5,475,000 also should generate around $928,000 in GET/TAT collected taxes. These are just the direct dollars from the bookings, these 200+rentals bring much needed tourist dollars into one of the most economically depressed districts in Hawaii. These guests patronize local restaurants, shops, Farms, Farmers Markets, Food Trucks, and the amount of money they spread around is not insignificant, at an average of around$200 per person, per day, this is much needed local income. Again, using the conservative number of 43,800 booked nights per year(figuring the average booking includes 3-4 visitors)that equates to around an additional $20,805,000 spent in the community ($26 mil minus the $5 mil of booking fees). This is representative of the Oceanview/Ka'u area, but applies to all rural areas where STR's are currently the only real option for accommodations. So,we're looking at taking away all that income from very depressed areas, from farmers, from residents and businesses still trying to survive after the Covid Lockdowns/struggling with a recession, and replacing it with what? There are plenty of Help Wanted signs in Waikoloa and Kailua Kona, but not in Oceanview. So moving all the tourism dollars back to the resort areas only hurts the communities that can least afford it. We understand that regulation is needed to limit the number of absentee owners not living in Hawaii and the number of STR's in high density neighborhoods but let's do it in a way that makes sense and keeps these residents, farmers, and local businesses thriving rather than struggling. Thank you in advance for your time, attention, and consideration. We respectfully challenge the Committee to demand accurate numbers as it relates to the STR issue - not the numbers being spewed by the politicians trying to push it through to keep their donors happy rather than the voting citizens that put them in office. As a for instance, we just sent in our quarterly taxes for month ending March 31, and it was approx $1500 - and that is just one couple renting one small ohana. Before you put all of these people out of business and wipe out this substantial tax revenue,we ask that you take the time to get the REAL numbers and facts associated with these bills. We respectfully ask that you vote "no" on the current draft regulations in favor of regulations that don't have these unintended dire consequences for the residents,businesses, and farmers of the most financially depressed,rural areas. With much respect and Aloha, Glenn Willson and Roberta Etter