HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.555 2022-2024From: Esther L
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2024 5:48 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Opposition and concern for Bill 121
Chairperson Heather Kimball
Hawaii County Council
County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Aloha Chairperson Kimball,
I am writing to express my concerns about Bill 121. 1 believe we should wait for the outcome of the
economic impact study before moving forward with this bill. The recent Supreme Court decision
has made all vacation rental operations on agricultural zoning illegal. This means that the Planning
Department will not be able to issue permits, effectively banning hosted vacation rentals on
agricultural land. This puts the livelihood of thousands of families in jeopardy. We pay GET, TAT,
and HCTAT for all rental income. We are primary homeowners, so why are we being penalized for
those that are operating unheated or without paying taxes? The taxes we pay also generate a huge
amount of income for the state and county.
The west side of Big Island is incredible rocky and we do not take the Agricultural exemption on
our land due to an inability to faun or produce enough to sell. Many on this side of the island have
the same experience. Much of Kona region is designated Agricultural land, but is full of
neighborhoods and houses.
In addition, many of us have extra bedrooms that we use for family when they come to visit. They
cannot be rented out long tenn when family comes regularly or for extended visits. We rent it out
short tern to help support our family and keep up with the rising cost of living in Hawaii.
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There continue to be no compelling reasons for this legislation. The County Council has yet to
identify I I ify a significant number of complaints or adverse impacts to neighborhoods from hosted
rentals, where the owner lives on the building site.
ease consider waiting for the study results before making any decisions on Bill 121.
Mahalo,
Daniel Lehmann