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"In addition, to the controls of land use <br /> and planning, the last constitutional convention has <br /> conferred upon the counties an additional power which, when <br /> responsibly exercised, greatly enhance the home rule' capab- <br /> ility of local government level . This is the total res- <br /> ponsibility for the real property taxing, property within <br /> the individual counties. At the present time, the power <br /> of real property taxation is exercised at two levels. The <br /> state sets the rate of assessment and the assessment criteria <br /> with the local government responsible for the tax rate to be <br /> charged against the assessed property. This divided system <br /> has caused confusion and buckpassing in the past, but will in <br /> the future be eliminated by having the total responsibility <br /> transferred to the county. This is an awesome responsibility <br /> and when coupled with our land use control , will greatly <br /> enhance our ability to divert the future of this island. <br /> "The Council , being the legislative branch, <br /> is traditionally assigned the policy-making responsibilities <br /> with the executive branch charged with the duty of executing <br /> the policy decSisions of the Council under the supervision of <br /> the Council . <br /> "The Charter, which your commission is <br /> responsible for reviewing, will be the document by which this <br /> county must operate for the next 10 years . We would caution <br /> the members of the commission that there is a need for built- <br /> in provisions to allow for the flexibility to adjust to the <br /> changes in our society. At this time I would like to comment <br /> on our thoughts. <br /> I. REVISIONS <br /> A. Section 3-2 Composition and Terms <br /> We would recommend that the Council be composed of <br /> nine members , five to be elected from the State <br /> House of Representative districts and four to be <br /> elected on an at-large basis. All members will <br /> serve four-year terms. The proposed recommendations <br /> would assure that each district is properly <br /> represented by the choice of the people within the <br /> district, not by the electorate of other districts. <br /> The four at-large members would provide the <br /> assurance that the issues will not be localized <br /> but will be addressed on a county-wide basis. <br /> B. Section 3-7 Organization of the Council ; Officers; <br /> Employees <br /> The Current Charter requirements have already proven <br /> the impracticality of one body servicing two masters, <br /> executive and legislative. We are in consonance with <br /> the Mayor ' s recommendation that the Council be <br /> authorized to retain their own legal counsel. <br /> -3- <br />