2010-11-03 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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actually can’t discuss anything from the folks that we just heard from. Is that correct? Or can we stay on this agenda item and see if we have anything we wanted to discuss from. MS. WONG: It says discussion. MS. GARSON: You know, I think you can. MS. O’HARA: It would be easier to do so as it’s in our memory now. MS. NICHOLSON: Yes. MS. GARSON: But if you’re going to, obviously if it’s going to be something that you want to take action on, then I would ask that you put it on another agenda. MR. MATSUDA: But just discussion we can? MS. GARSON: Yes. MS. NICHOLSON: Okay, so we’re still on item 5. Anyone have any comments or observations or anything that they would like to maybe further discuss from the presentation we just had? MS. O’HARA: I think some really important points came up in the Real Property Tax discussion. The fact that agricultural exemptions are not being properly monitored. And they have no requirement for financial documentation that a portion of the owner’s income is coming from ag makes it real easy for that program to be abused. And that costs us all in terms of tax revenues. I also think the issue with homeowners exemptions are unpermitted building is costing the county a significant amount as well. I think both of those things are something that council could take action on. And that would increase our revenues. That’s my response of the tax office. I’m sorry to hear that DEM is still working on new software solution to coordinating collection and fill tip fees, scale house fees with their billing, as that has been an issue that has been in front of them for at least six years to my knowledge. And it would be great to see that resolved. That would help in collection of delinquencies and overall collections as well. I would recommend the department look more closely at regulating the septic and grease haulers because a good portion if not the majority of Hawai‘i county is discharging waste into septic systems and they do need to be pumped regularly and we do not have any oversight at the county level on those services. And by charging higher registration fees we might be able to provide more regulatory implements over that whole industry. MS. WONG: So at some point in the future, your committee will be making a recommendation? MS. O’HARA: No, I’m just saying those are points that I observed. 25