HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.335 2022-2024P / Poulo
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GOMM. �75
July 5, 2024
To: Chair Kimball and all the County Council Members
Re: Bill 121
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From: Bonnie J Geiger
88 Makakai PI
Hilo, HI 96720
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My Position: Opposed to Bill 121
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Background: I am an 83 year old, recently widowed female on a fixed income and own a
handicapped accessible home in which I have lived for 24 years. I would prefer to remain here
and not have to move, but do need additional income to deal with continued maintenance etc.
I have a Short Term Rental in my home. In 2023 1 paid to the County and State $3056 in taxes. In
checking with 2 other properties on my one block street I discovered that we 3 paid a total of
$14692 in State and County sales and Tourism taxes. Multiply this by the number of STR
properties and this becomes a significant source of revenue for both the County and State. If
you pass Bill 121, will you still get that revenue? In my case you won't.
Why do I oppose Bill 121:
1. The paper registration process and fee structure is onerous for the legitimate business
owner and creates another clerical issue for the county. At the present time you don't
even save previous plans submitted for renovations etc. I know because I've tried to get
them for renovations done by prior owners.
2. You are devaluing my property by taking away my existing property rights.
3. 1 am fortunate to have off street parking but this is a County wide issue and not just for
STR's. I have surfers parking on my street because the county hasn't planned for any real
parking solution for them. Are you going to outlaw them? Also, neighbors with
multilevel families living there have multiple vehicles, several of those cars are now
parked on the street. Are you going to outlaw them? How are you even going to know
which are STR vehicles and which are neighborhood cars?
4. 1 have been informed that Council person Kierkiewicz has a resolution to do an impact
study. I support that and ask, Why make these changes prior to seeing the results of the
study.
I respectfully request that you oppose Bill 121 in it's entirety.
Comm. N . .h•
Ref. To: IV (MD
Ref. Date JUL _ 8 2024