HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.007 2022-2024 From: Quentin Andrews Parker
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2024 6:03 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: questions and comments about Bill 121
Please consider my questions and comments on the proposed Bill 121 regulating short-term vacation rentals:
My questions concern increased fees for unhosted short term vacation rentals permitted with STVR-NUC and purpose of new
TAR bill:
Since 2013, my home has been an unhosted short term vacation rental,fully compliant will all regulations and duly licensed
since 2019.
The current annual renewal fee is a flat$250. I have paid this fee every year since the permitting process began-the TAR bill
states erroneously that this is a new requirement..
The proposal assesses a$250 renewal fee and an additional$400/bedroom fee based on my property value-an increase from
$250/year to$1,050/year in my renewal fee.
I already pay all required GET and TAT taxes,as well as property tax at the highest rate because I am prohibited from taking the
homeowner or over 65 exemptions.
I contribute to my community in addition to my tax burden by paying all my vendors a living wage($25+/hour). In more than
10 years of being in business, I have never received a complaint about my guests,who regularly shop at local businesses
including ChoiceMart, Kealia Ranch store, South Kona Fruit Stand, Kona Boys,Oshima Surf etc.
Finally, I am unable to rent to section 8 families because:
1. my property is very remote(parents have to be available to drive their child to and from the nearest school bus stop)2.the
section 8 rent allowance doesn't even cover my monthly cost for insurance and property taxes.
In summary,this bill punishes me as a small business owner and does nothing to address the desperate lack of affordable
housing for families in South Kona:
Please answer my questions:
1.what is the purpose of the increased renewal fee?
2. how does this bill increase availability of affordable housing in South Kona? 'ra
Respectfully submitted,
Quentin Andrews Parker -"
qandrewsparker@yahoo.com Q-t
87-3184 Mapuna Road
Captain Cook, HI 96704 , ,
508.380.2002 `
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