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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0600.027 2022-2024 P/FC bill 1014 GOMM.COO Daniel R. Bona Design & Consulting RR 2 Box 4748 12-7202 Mauka Nui Street Kehena Beach,Hawaii 96778 Bonadesign@AOL.com Telephone 808-965-7364 County Council Testimony counciltestimony(c�hawaiicounty.gov c-s RE: Public testimony regarding deficiencies and contradicting language in the third draft of Bill 104. r �, After being displaced from our only home for 6 months during the 2018 Lava ' Ew= flow, we purchased a building lot in Hilo (for 6 times what it cost us to buy our 17) Kehena Lot.) Since the cost of the residential lot in Hilo was so high, we decided to make the extra investment to put an Ohana on the lot to provide much needed housing and a source of some income in retirement(since we are both self-employed and had very little for retirement outside of social security). The County charged us $9500 for a second water meter. Helco forced us to pay for two electrical hook ups, and drainage issues cost$50,000 before construction began. Building during covid increased costs 200% above our estimated budget, and then Interest rates doubled before the house could be finalled. The total cost (with land) for our 2000 sqft PRIMARY RESIDENCE and 576 sqft one bedroom Ohana was over $900,000. We were very worried about having a property tax bill of$5535. We were completely shocked when the Tax office informed us that we would owe $9990 because we were stupid enough to spend extra money to increase the housing pool in Hilo. There is no way anyone can afford to rent under"affordable housing" rules when the monthly cost for a new home in Hawaii are so ridiculous. The new Kaloko Heights "affordable housing" cost $550,000 per unit. It is only "affordable" because the County is paying two thirds of the monthly costs! (with our property tax money) The building code that the Council "pushed through" (without reading or understanding) doubled the cost of building a home on this island. Because the home is near the Hospital, we spent even more to completely furnish our Ohana and make it available to travel Nurses. This is much safer as the rent payments are more guaranteed and there is no threat of costly evictions, as they will b leaving in 4 to 6 months. Why did Draft 3 remove the exception in the ten months (long term) for travelling medical and students? Please provide justification for this. 1. A lot of additional housing is needed in the expensive areas near Hilo. 2. Housing for travel medical is necessary, and is still adding to the housing Comm. O•Z} Ref.To: Ref.Date pool for all purposes. 3. October 14, 2022 a U.S. District court Judge ruled that ANY rental of over 30 days constitutes a"residential use" (a law conflict) 4. County Bill 108 defines a short term rental as under 30 days. (a law conflict) 5. The lasted draft of the Council bill to register short term rentals for"hosted rentals" specifically exempts short term rental to travelling medical and university student housing. (a law conflict) This bill should be for tax breaks to actual full-time residents on their Primary residence. It does not matter what the income is of the tenants renting the units (the reason I heard that you removed the exemptions for travelling nurses) 6. Even old state law (which is in the process of being changed) defines short term rentals as being under 180 days. So why is this "long term rental" bill have a minimum of ten months? How was this cut off arrived at? It is the purpose of the County Council to serve the long-time residents of your districts. It is to help them with the extreme financial difficulties, especially in retirement. Instead of helping to reduce the costs of building new housing, the Council is once again Increasing taxes to subsidize low-income individuals, even if it creates a low-income problem with property owners. The Long-term definition Should be reduced from ten months to 4 months at least. Or Please put back in the exemptions for much needed travelling medical housing and students. Anything more than 30 days eliminates the higher profit nightly AirBnB market from this Bill. I truly appreciate your consideration of all these issues, conflicts, and inequities that are present in this third draft, Sincerely, Daniel Bona 12-7202 Maukanui Street, Pahoa Trying to move into a new home at 80 Kapaka Steet, Hilo. But I cannot sell the old house because there is no homeowners insurance available. The County raised my taxes 400% because I.can't have TWO homes. At present they will not allow the homeowner tax rate on the new one because there is a rental on the property. How can a 35 resident of the County NOT get a homeowner's tax rate'99999) I am presently paying Two Mortgages, and FULL tax rate for two homes.