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ti-os <br /> 'rp;*,�. .\ •\ Wil Okabe <br /> Managing Director <br /> Harry Kim •t 6:.'1':-.',.• <br /> Mayor .`-,-ver Barbara J.Kossow <br /> ;`. �`` Deputy Managing Director <br /> (g.alli g of Pfltuuut'I <br /> Office of fi r 4Crtgur <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,Hawaii 96740 <br /> (808)3234444 • Fax(808)323-4440 <br /> May 1, 2017 <br /> Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi Honorable Jill N. Tokuda <br /> Senate District 8 Senate District 24 <br /> Hawai`i State Capitol, Room 409 Hawai`i State Capitol, Room 207 <br /> senkouchia,capitol.hawaii.gov sentokuda(4,capitol.hawaii.gov <br /> Honolulu, HI 96813 Honolulu, HI 96813 <br /> Honorable Joseph M. Souki Honorable Sylvia Luke <br /> House District 8 House District 25 <br /> Hawaii State Capitol, Room 431 Hawaii State Capitol, Room 306 <br /> rensouki@capitol.hawaii.gov repluke Jcapitol.hawaii.gov <br /> Honolulu, HI 96813 Honolulu, HI 96813 <br /> Dear President Kouchi, Speaker Souki, Senator Tokuda and Representative Luke: <br /> We understand that the conference committee regarding Senate Bill 1183, agreed to increase the <br /> TAT from 9.25%to 12%, with the increase going to the City and County of Honolulu's rail <br /> system. This increase in TAT would be collected on all islands, even though the rail system is <br /> only located on Oahu. In addition, the TAT cap for the counties was not restored to $103 million <br /> as in previous years. This will reduce our TAT revenue by $1.86 million. This is more than the <br /> entire budget for our Civil Defense department. We cannot eliminate this or any department <br /> from our budget. Without these funds, a significant increase in real property taxes for our <br /> citizens will be necessary. The same citizens that you also represent. <br /> This bill is not fair. All islands will see an increase in the TAT but only one will benefit. We all <br /> will be seeing less TAT in our budgets. We respectfully request that you do whatever you can to <br /> provide the counties with their fair share of TAT and find another way to fund the rail system, <br /> such as continuing the additional GET for Oahu. <br /> We appreciate your consideration as we all attempt to best serve our joint constituents, the <br /> people of Hawaii. <br /> Re tfull jc., <br /> arry Kim <br /> Mayor <br /> County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br />