2011-04-08 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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MS. POMEROY: Okay. MS. O’HARA: I’m curious, following up on that increase revenue for the county, would that be through increased product sales? MS. POMEROY: Yeah I think there’s confusion here about revenue for the County of Hawai‘i, the government versus a business which is private. MS. NICHOLSON: But that still generates tax revenue for the county so if there’s a way we can support agriculture it would still generate more revenue for the county. MS. POMEROY: Okay. MS. O’HARA: How does that directly create revenue for the county? MS. NICHOLSON: Through taxes probably. MR. ARMOUR: And more jobs. MS. NICHOLSON: More jobs. More revenue. MS. O’HARA: Okay, I just want that clearer. MS. NICHOLSON: But we would need it more clear in order to include it in our report. MS. POMEROY: I think I can clarify it right now. MS. NICHOLSON: Okay. MS. POMEROY: Create economic development incubation for edible and non-edible small ag entrepreneurial businesses to increase efficiency and revenue for the County of Hawai‘i via more jobs and tax revenue. MS. NICHOLSON: That still seems a little vague for us. MS. POMEROY: Still vague. MS. NICHOLSON: Still a little... Iguess I would like something a little bit more specific. MS. O’HARA: Specific interms of the taxes because certain taxes don’t accrue to the county they accrue to the state, like GE taxes and stuff. So I just want it clear how that directly benefits the county. MS. POMEROY: Okay. MS. NICHOLSON: Suggestion c Planning Department: Collaborate with Public Works and Real Property Tax Division to create efficiency and opportunity incentives for important agricultural land.Can you talk about that a little bit like what kind of efficiencies are we talking about? 4