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S COUNTY COLIJtCIL Charter Review Commission County of Hawaii February 20, 1979 Hawaii County Building Page 2 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • and the Legislature of the State of Hawaii. These powers are further promulgated in that document that you are now in the process of reviewing, our County Charter. Our local government, being the closest level of government to the people of the County of Hawaii , is charged with the responsibility and obligation .of providing the primary public services demanded by the people of our County. These services are basically in the • area of police, fire, roads , .water and recreation. In addition,. and perhaps of more importance, is the local government° s role in land use and planning. The local government -through its exercise • of land use controls formulate policies and decisions which not only guide the direction and growth of our county, but also dictate cost and expenses which will be borne by the people of our county. Land use planning considers social, economic and cultural activities which determines the lifestyle, vitality, and happiness of our people. In addition, to the controls of land use and planning, the last constitutional convention has conferred upon the counties an •additional power which, when responsibly exercised, greatly enhance. the homerule capability of local government level. This is the total responsibility for the real property taxing, property within the individual counties. At the present time, the power of real property taxation is exercised at two levels. The state sets the rate of assessment and the assessment criteria with the local government responsible for the tax rate to be charged against the assessed property. This divided system has caused confusion and buckpassing . in the past, but will in the future: be eliminated by having the total responsibility transferred to the bounty. This • is an awesome responsibility and when coupled with our land use control , will greatly enhance our ability to divert the future of this island. The Council, being the legislative branch, is traditionally assigned the policy-making responsibilities with the executive branch charged with the duty of executing the policy decisions of the Council under the supervision of the Council. The Charter , which your commission is responsible for reviewing, will be the document by which this County must operate for the • next .10 years. We would caution the members of the commission that there is a need for built.-in provisions to allow for the flexibility to adjust to the changes in our society. At this time I would like to comment on our thoughts.