HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0830.005 2020-2022 lFC,
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From: John Fields CO ERIC
Sent: Tuesday,lune 14, 2022 8:52 AM
COUNTY OF HA` I'I
To: Council Testimony DECEIVE
Subject: Public Testimony - Tax Relief Proposal Bill 182
Date
In my opinion, increasing the homeowner's exemption in this proposed bill makes our existing real property tax system less fair
for 2 reasons:
1. By increasing the exemptions for seniors,we are in effect penalizing the younger taxpayers. As the population
ages we are gradually increasing the burden to our younger generation. On the threshold of becoming a kapuna myself
I can see both sides of the fence. I don't believe it is fair to penalize one generation in favor of another.There is a
practice of giving seniors reduced rates for practically everything. If that is the goal,then I believe a form of income
supplements similar or derived from the existing somewhat means tested social security system would be somewhat
fairer and overall probably more efficient.
2. There is evidence of widespread fraud in the homeowner's declaration with many owners claiming exemptions for
which they are not qualified either through unpermitted uses or by falsely claiming residency requirements.There are
others claiming a larger exemption than their age and circumstances would allow.The provisions of this exemption are
presently not strongly enforced—making it less fair to those who comply. In any case, strict enforcement would
require additional administrative resources that further burden the taxpayer.There I am in favor of abolishing all
exemptions and the homeowner designation.
I would like to see a fairer and simpler taxation system. One that doesn't favor one demographic over another and one that
doesn't require multiple loopholes and a large expensive bureaucracy to administer. Having property taxes more tied directly
to the actual costs of providing services to those properties would also be nice instead of it being based predominantly on the
tax classification and assessed values.
As will any proposed change to tax rates, I would like to see a financial analysis, impact on expenditures. what new budget line
items will be fundedjdefunded as a consequence of the adoption of the proposals, etc.
John Fields
Pepeekeo
Comm. No.
Ref.To: IF-C.
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