HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.409 2022-2024From: KhstinaAndeoon
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2024 1 1:39 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Bill 121and 122—OPPOSED
Aioh8CnuDCii'
I would like to submit my testimony in STRONG OPPOSITION to both Bills 121 and 122.
First, BILL 121. 1 am a 32-year resident of Hawaii County. I bought my South Kona home in 2004.1 have
hosted an attached vacation rental studio in my home for many years. As a single mother fightingto
crawl. out of foreclosure in 2010, and supporting my twins through my divorce and their college years, I
cannot even begin to tell you how helpful. this additional income was! It LITERALLY allowed me to keep
my home afloat after I entered into a mortgage modification in tate 2011. Without this airbnb income that
hetped lift me out of foreclosure, I might wett have been one of the many housetess famities camping out
behind Lenih8UCenter, and |@D1OotjOWOg.
Since then, this income, inctuding my satary as a substitute teacher and a freetance writer, h8aaihovved
me to maintain and repair my home (to name a few things: two dishwashers, three washers, a water
puPOp'owater heater, three fridges and four stoves, a new catchment tank, plumbing leaks, roof leaks,
sewer pipe C[enko.)ASany homeowner knows, the UatiSendless! The income has 8iioxVednletopay rne
HeioO8nd Internet bills. And DlUCh more!
The authors of Bitt 121 declare they are simply asking users to "register." This is false.
There's a mountain of bureaucratic paperwork we would need to comptete, and we are stilt 8tthe mercy
of approval of the planning department and our neighbors within 300 feet. I estimate the initial
"negimtr8tion"p[UCossvviUCOStrneotheagt$1000ifnotrnDre'betvveHDth8f8eS,NUCs'pianmdnaxVD,8Dd
300-foot letters. Why are hosted rentals subject to this over -reach and over-reguLation? We tive here!
How does that count as simply registering? I call it a TAX and a large one, because that is what it is.
I already PAY many taxes. Including more than double the homeowner property tax exemption rate, and
the 17.96% total TAT and GET as welt as income tax. Why is another tax needed? Especially since I am
located in District 6, which has next to NO county services (water, trash, parks) avaitabte to taxpayers.
If this bill passes, I must completely quit for good. Enough. It's not sustainable or profitabte because
there are too many expenses and taxes. The fines are scary. (And I must ask why are so many illegal
unhosted rentals still proliferating in my neighborhood? You can't enforce compliance on these violators
yet you want to impose more regutation on those of us atready operating tegatty?)
I believe you should grandfather in the previously operating hosted rentats who have already been
hosting successfutly and legally al.l. these years without regutation. Especiatly those of us who live in their
unhosted rental at Puako, Kolea or Mauna Lani Point? (This is another issue for another day --change the
tax code to allow the homeowner exemption to apply for a short term rental as tong as the homeowner
lives there full time and the rental is attached to their home. On that note, I don't get amnesty under your
bill because my taxes have already been rotted back! Unfair and possibly not legal!)
Hawaii is a very difficult place to make a living, especially in the rural areas. This is 2024 when people can
and should be able to earn a living by working from home! Hosting a short term rental has been working
and doesn't bother anyone. We are here to supervise our quiet, sightseeing guests and sharing inthe
oteto'alargest industry! VVedonot need regulation!
PLEASE vote NO on advancing this vote forward. Also we need the Economic Impact Study you have
promised us. Please put this bill on hold until the study is completed and the analysis has been done.
BILL 122. 1 OPPOSE this Bill. Our island B&Bs should not be converted to TARs. This will result in the loss
of the endearing/romantic category of inns and B&Bs and does not make sense. They are not in the same
category as TARs. They will also be subject to the whims of future councils, who can just decide aR TARs
are pau. And with the legislation passed this year in the state and signed by the governor, it could very
well happen. Does this mean new B&Bs can just open and serve food without needing to pass the
important safety and ADA requirements they have now? Leave the B&Bs alone!
Thank you for taking my testimony,
NiSdOaADderGOn
South Kona