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---•-• <br /> -4' ......... Wil Okabe <br /> 7 <br /> --' .‘ %, Managing Director <br /> ' • <br /> Harry Kim : .,4‘. ..f,-,.-11:.; <br /> . <br /> Mayor • .—-1_...rot- : • <br /> • 4;•?(4'-------*4.•%• ' Barbara J.Kossow <br /> . e,.... ....70 -' <br /> ..,4 o;.to. .-• Deputy Managing Director <br /> Countof 74nioni`i <br /> c• <br /> ®fftti of flir Atagur <br /> 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 <br /> KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg.C • Kailua-Kona,Hawai`i 96740 <br /> (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 <br /> February 13, 2017 <br /> Representative Scott Nishimoto <br /> Judiciary Committee <br /> Hawai'i State Capitol <br /> Honolulu, HI 96813 <br /> Dear Chair Nishimoto and members: <br /> RE: HB 180, HD1 <br /> As a former teacher myself, I fully appreciate the efforts of this Legislature to properly fund <br /> education. However, I cannot support HB180, HD1 and must speak against it. <br /> Effect on Real property tax. The County of Hawaii, as is true of the other counties, has little <br /> or no control over its revenue except in one area, real property taxes, and the County relies <br /> overwhelmingly on real property taxes to fund its operations. The burden of that tax can be heavy for <br /> many residents, but since it is virtually the only tool we have, we use it the best we can. <br /> A surcharge on residential investment properties would obviously limit County options and <br /> make it even more difficult to balance our budgets. Therefore, we have to jealously guard this taxing <br /> authority, and ask that you not breach this line of authority. <br /> Effect on TAT. Given our County's limited resources, we are fortunate that the Legislature <br /> has seen fit to allow the counties to share in the TAT. That has been a great help, and we thank you <br /> for it. However, this source of revenue is under constant pressure, and even this session the <br /> Legislature will be asked to increase the counties' share of TAT so that we can better serve our <br /> constituents and visitors. The TAT pie can only be divided into so many pieces, and a surcharge on <br /> visitor accommodations, even for the most noble of purposes, will obviously limit what can be raised <br /> and spent elsewhere. <br /> Please do not deprive the counties of this needed source of revenue, by dividing the pie even <br /> further. <br /> R ectfully, t t <br /> Harry Kt . <br /> Mayor <br /> County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br />