HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0721.006 2020-2022 /
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April 18,2022
Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Chair
Heather Kimball,Vice-Chair
Committee on Finance
Hawaii County Council
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI 96720
RE: Support for Bill 152 and Bill 153
Dear Chair Kanealii-Kleinfelder,Vice-Chair Kimball and Members of the Hawaii County Council,
Thank you for the opportunity to support Bill 152 and Bill 153.
We appreciate Vice-Chair Heather Kimball and Hawaii County Councilmember Holeka Inaba introducing this
legislation.The County of Hawaii should be doing everything in its power to address our affordable housing crisis,as
affordable workforce housing is essential to keeping our economy running smoothly.
The KCRA has been a staunch supporter of affordable workforce housing projects throughout Hawaii Island.We serve
on Vibrant Hawaii's Housing Coalition and Data Visualization Core Teams,and have also supported the Planning
Department's efforts to amend zoning and building codes to find creative solutions to address our affordable housing
needs.
We appreciate your efforts on behalf of the 5,000 people we employ at our hotels,timeshares, restaurants, retail
outlets,golf courses and spas.Those employees support 20,000 Hawaii Island residents,who all need quality
housing.
In 2022, KCRA members will pay an estimated$60 million in state and county TAT,and$40 million in state and
county GET. Further, KCRA members,and the residents within our resorts, paid$73 million in property taxes to
Hawaii County last year,one fourth of total property tax collections. We believe this earmark from property taxes is a
good step in our collective efforts to address our housing crisis.
We encourage you to support Bill 152 and Bill 153.
Sincerely,
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Stephanie Donoho
Administrative Director, Kohala Coast Resort Association
PO Box 6991,Kamuela,HI 96743*(908)747-5762*kohalacoastresortassneDgmaii.com*ww .kohal tmsNMcom t'
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