HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0739.021 2020-2022 P/C,aun.ci l
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Kohaia COast
RESORT ASSOCIATION
October 28,2022 ,
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Maile David, Chair c--)`w-m
Aaron Chung,Vice Chair
Hawaii County Council —
Hawaii County Building . =-
25 Aupuni Street,Hilo,HI 96720
RE:Support for Bill 156–providing a 15%cap on certain property tax values --
Dear Chair David,Vice Chair Chung and Members of the Hawaii County Council,
The Kohala Coast Resort Association is in support of Bill 156 and the proposed rate cap(both ceiling and floor) of 15%for the:
apartment,hotel and resort,commercial,industrial,agricultural, native forests,and conservation tax classes. Mahalo to
Councilmember Sue Lee Loy for introducing this legislation and for the productive discussion at earlier Finance Committee
hearings.Although there are challenges that were identified by Lisa Muira during that previous hearing,we believe that there
needs to be additional involvement from the business community so that taxes can be fairly assessed on all businesses.
Thank you for understanding as well that businesses large and small are seeing significant increases in the day-to-day costs of
operations in nearly every arena:salary increases,increases in the cost of family medical benefits,food costs for both our guests
and our employee meals,energy and gasoline costs,construction materials costs and delays,supply chain disruptions,the new
Hawaii County TAT implemented in January 2022,and significant increases in real property tax values in 2022-23.
One property along the Kohala Coast saw the value of its buildings increase by 124%between 2020 and 2022,and seven
properties saw their values increase by more than 50%year-over-year. Properties across the Kohala Coast now pay nearly 1/3 of
all Hawaii County property taxes-$134 million–though many of those taxpayers only use a minimal amount of Hawaii County
services.
Businesses large and small are relying on you to create appropriate guardrails,so we can better forecast overall expenses,and
whether the peaks and valleys we'll see in future years.
Thank you for continuing to deliberate on Bill 156,and for working toward a solution that will work for all of Hawaii County's
taxpayers.
Sincerely,
p •
Stephanie Donoho
Administrative Director,Kohala Coast Resort Association
PO Box 6991,Kamuela,HI 96743*(808)747-5762*kohalacoastresortassnftmail.com*www.kohaltsja s $com 7 7)4I•2.1
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