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V OF
<br />Wil Okabie
<br />Akinagying Director
<br />Harr Kim
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<br />Alavor
<br />Barbara I Kossow
<br />Mill
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<br />25 Au'puni Street, Suite 2603 Hillo, Flawail'i 96720 (8l08) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553
<br />KONA: 74-50:44 ,ane KeoholkAlole Hwy-, Bldg C Kailua-Kona, Hawail"i 967,40
<br />(808) 3123-4444 el Fax (8018) 323-4440,
<br />Representative Justin H'. Woioidsoin, Chia,ir
<br />Committee wn Eduica,tioln
<br />Hi awail"i State Capitol, Room 309
<br />Honiolulu,l HI 96813
<br />[11-154F
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<br />!richarge oin
<br />Re: SlBi 292i2, SD I Relating to Consfitutional' Amendment Su
<br />Property Tax
<br />Hearing Da,te: 04/041/2018 —3:00 pmi; House Conference Room 3019
<br />I riespectfully and urgently request that SB 2922, SID, 1, amending the
<br />Constituition to authioirize a State suircharge on real property, not move forward.
<br />I recognize that SIB 29i2,2, SDi 1 has s,olme superficial political appeal�, tied as it ii
<br />1to i betteir funding for education., However, no matteir what the potential benefits of SIB
<br />291221: SID 1 , impingiing on the coun;ti�es" singular source of incom,el would be devastat�in
<br />to us. I
<br />iAs + you well know, t�h le counties have little or nio conitrol over their revenue excep'L
<br />in one area, real property taxes, and therefore we rely overwhelmingly on rea,l propeirty
<br />taxes to fund olur operations. For the Counity of Hawai'i, a, fulli 74%1 olf our revenue is,
<br />from property taxes.
<br />The burden of the property tax can be heavy for manly residents,, but since it i
<br />virtually the only tool we have, we use it thlei besit we ca,n. A surcharge on resiidenti'a
<br />investment properties would obviously limit County options, and' make it eiven, more
<br />�a,rd th�is taxing
<br />difficult to balance our bludgets. Therefore, we have to jealously gu�i
<br />aut�hority, and' asik that you not break this bright line of separation.
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<br />County Of Vlawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
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