HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.256 2022-2024P / PMU9
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Testimony onHawaii County Bill 121, 122 and 123 _ � l ( 1t2116
7/4/24 � �; F:. i`t
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Eric Weinert
Resident and Property Owner in District 1 0711 Jtj 1 5 {
This July 4th we are celebrating our independence from the over reaching tyrannical British Government who
dared to charge a 2% tax on tea. Our forefathers created a limited government and Representative Republic
(not a democracy) to protect individual rights and specifically our property rights. These bills are an assault
the that legacy and an affront to all those who fought and died to give us our Country and our Constitution.
The root cause of problems of unaffordable housing in Hawaii County are the result of the failed policy of this
Council and,State Legislators. High taxes, endless regulations and complex web of requirements have made
building affordable housing untenable for the private sector.
To fix the problem you created, you are now doubling down on your failed policies by creating a huge
bureaucracy and more regulations which will kill the economy of East Hawaii. Everyone who stays at an
AirBnb also rents a car, eats at restraunts and shops at local business. This will stop and local business will
go out of business. No one who's stays at an AirBnB on this coast will opt to stay in an expensive hotel. They
will just not come to Hawaii and opt for more affordable vacations elsewhere.
What you don't realize is that the Hawaii government is already collecting revenue 18% of every
accommodation payment, taxed again at 4.5% GE tax and what is left over is taxed as income tax. And all
the things these visitors buy in our local economy is taxed, and the payroll of those employed in those
businesses are taxed. You are killing this golden goose, and you will miss it when it goes away.
In a few years you will see that these policies have failed and you will again turn to the property owners to
extract more taxes. Your legal theft will be done again by threat of massive fines or jail and taking of private
property.
Think of my opening argument. The founders of the USA created a limited Representative Republic to protect
private property rights. Communist central planning systems have always failed. It will fail here too. I urge
you to come to your senses before you kill our economy.
Comm. No.
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