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:1 <br /> .�.ai <br /> .W Managing <br /> Okabe Director <br /> Harry Kim •��� 1:: <br /> Mayor Barbara J.Kossow <br /> °' •,;��� Deputy Managing Direcror <br /> orx•'M <br /> County ofPatnd't <br /> Moe of The Aar <br /> 25 Aupum Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 <br /> KONA. 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 <br /> (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 <br /> March 14, 2017 <br /> Representative Roy Takumi <br /> Consumer Protection & Commerce <br /> Hawaii State Capitol <br /> Honolulu, HI 96813 <br /> Dear Chair Takumi and members: <br /> RE: SB 686 SD 2 <br /> Relating to Education Funding <br /> As a former teacher myself, I fully appreciate the efforts of this Legislature to <br /> properly fund education. However, I cannot support SB686, SD1, and must speak <br /> against it. <br /> Effect on Real property tax. The County of Hawaii, as is true of the other <br /> counties, has little or no control over its revenue except in one area, real property taxes, <br /> and the County relies overwhelmingly on real property taxes to fund its operations. The <br /> burden of that tax can be heavy for many residents, but since it is virtually the only tool <br /> we have, we use it the best we can. <br /> A surcharge on residential investment properties would obviously limit County <br /> options and make it even more difficult to balance our budgets. Therefore, we have to <br /> jealously guard this taxing 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 <br /> Legislature has seen fit to allow the counties to share in the TAT. That has been a great <br /> help, and we thank you for it. <br /> However, this source of revenue is under constant pressure, and even this <br /> session the Legislature will be asked to increase the counties' share of TAT so that we <br /> can better serve our constituents and visitors. The TAT pie can only be divided into so <br /> many pieces, and a surcharge on visitor accommodations, even for the most noble of <br /> purposes, will obviously limit what can be raised and spent elsewhere. <br /> County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br />