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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0793.001 1998-2000 JUN-01-00 03:29 PM PI)HH4 0-C 9E>5C, ZC P. 31 rr, r r o _ I C W TZ CIRCLE P-0-80X 1085 ' PAHOA li:, HAWAII, 96778 1~: (808) 96 a.e;F 'S Mai 12.2000 hair& Members of the Ila~tai'i County Council '5 Aupum Street I Iilo. HI 96720 R F FY 711 /00 - 6`30/01 R1-.AI PROPERTY TAX RATES In the earl} part of the last decade, the State Legislature instrt.~_teu the ~ utnttcs to amend their real property tax rates to create disincentive~ for destroying native forest ecosystems on private propert}. Puna Outuc i'ircle brought this issue before the council at that time, and Nvhat « c-ne thing and another (which 1 would be happy to detail for you upon rc ~qll "U it Dept getting delayed and galling through the cracks Finally, a Nkateiedi down hill was passed by the Council. which established the Native Forest t„v-. catcgory and made the rate the same (instead of higher, as it preyiow,k v, as) a~ Agricultural. This is reflected in your current proposed rate structu<<. At the time of the bills passage there was some concern bN C ett ~cil members that there would be a tremendous negative fiscal impac' o; 'l; County's real property tax income. Time has shown clean} that Slic!;' `ears ~N ere unfounded. 1 loNvevcr, the proposed tax rate for Native Forest does not fi,,1 Fj I I the State mandate to create a financial incentive to save these vital ecos\ tams. Fhe only ~vay to do that within the current tax structure is to nial ih:_ r« 1~ for Native Forest the lokvest That v~ ould metro that land in this cate~ur~ -,kould have a rate of less than S.45 per $ 1,000 valuation I Noutd ill-lc to s~~,gcst. therefore, that the Council ati}ust this, rate accordmgk Comm.. No. ~ 013 . 070A rr.r.~ . JUN-© 1 03 :30 PM P11NA-n-C 9656626 P 02 I would also suggest that in the near future the Council cons icier looking into the way these native Forest lands are assessed Potennil ,.alue nr value of nearby parcels (i.e., "best" and "highest" use) should not ~.,fitct the valuation of Native Forest lands. The owners are not reaping an_, c:Ommercial income from these lands, which arc serving an important huhlic function of providing clean air, watershed, etc. And if their parcels ar( Ml:' sufficient size to be a major habitat, then they, are already paying a lut ) tax nor no personal benefit. 1 kno~~ of an S$ acrc lot of old growth ohia » hich abuts a Natural Area Keselve It acts as a protectitie bugler for the R,,, c. It takes four people to encircle one tree with their arms. This lot has mai;\ native plutt and bird species on it. and although none are endangered ,r tills time. it is potential habitat for the future. The owner is paring over a N ear in taxes, and is considering selling or leasing it for papaya in k)rdo1 - to cover his costs. When he covers his costs, we will also lose this imporl lilt piece of forest. There is no need for the County and its people to susI:1in such a loss. An incentive does not act as such if it is too small. Once rlati% e forest is lost it. and its benefits to us all, are lost forever. I urge you 'Lo Joe all in your po«cr to create incentives that have some teeth and do the 10h Mahalo for considering these suggestions. with aloha aina. Al ,FJ ' U-Gt--- 4-a Rcne Siracusa ['resident