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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0471.000 2000-2002 Gilliam Takaba Harry Kim Finance Director Mayor ~ ° Nancy E. Craevford Deputy Director s:'a~ a_°~ ~~e6p:6~ COIII~~ O~ ~~.~~11 DEPAIt'I'iVI~NT O;F N'INAIdTCE -1tEAL ~1~OPEit'I'Y TAX 865 Piilani Street • I-lilo, Hawaii 96720-4679 • Fax (808) 961-8415 Appraisers (808) 961-8354 • Clerical (808) 961-8201 • Collections (808) 961-8282 75-5706 Kuakini Highway • Suite 112 • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 • Fax (808) 327-3538 Appraisers (808) 327-3542 • Clerical (808) 327-3540 ®ecember 27, 2001 c'_ The Honorable Harry 6Cim, I\Aayor ~ - The Honorable James Arakaki, Chairman ,end I~Iiesv~bers of the Council County of Havwaii - 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Enclosed is the 2001 annual report of the Deal Property Tax Board of Reviean~ as required by Chapter 19. . ~ I~ EN, Chairman 'Tax rd of I~evieee~ Enclosure cc: William fiakaba, ®irector of Finance Comm. Na ~°ile N®. ' ~ ~®~Z ~f, _ _ ~~A~ RI~OP~~~TI( TAX ~OAR~ Ole ~~VI~#1V 2001 ANiVIJAt~ tt~P41~T' 1. Ir~tr~~~ac#i~~ Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 19, Article 12, Section 19-97(e), Hawaii County code as amended, the members of the Deal Property Tax Soard of Review submit the following report of activities and recommendations of the 2001-2002 tax year. 'The recommendations relate to both legislative and administrative matters. The following is a list of officers and members of the Soard: Sill Green, Chairman Fred Yamashiro, Vice-Chairman Srian Nakashima Gus Ogasawara Cavil Powell Potential appointees should be apprised of the demands of their time that service of this Soard entails before their names are submitted to the County Council for confirmation hearings. This is not a ceremonial commission. All members are expected to attend all meetings. Meetings in Hilo or Kona are usually a weekly occurrence from July through September or October with two nights away from home or office necessary at these times, should the present level of appeals continue. ®R~ MM~IP' Srian Nakashima's term ends at the end of 2001. A. ®rganizati®nal Meeting °The annual organization meeting of the Soard was held on March 19, 2001, at the ~2eal Property Tax office in Hilo for the purpose of electing officers and establishing a tentative appeal-hearing schedule for Kilo and Kona. The Soard chairman was authorized, as is traditional, to sign letters denying appeals postmarked after the statutory deadline. l~~peal Hearings Threw hundred fifty-two (352) appeals were scheduled to be heard this tax year. This is a decrease from the 458 cases heard in the previous tax year. To accommodate this Board, eight hearing dates were set (four for fast I-lawaii commencing July 13, 2001, and four for West Hawaii commencing July 20, 2001). The Board met on November 14, 2001, to formulate the draft Annual Report. The final wrap-up meeting was held in Hilo on November 14, 2001. C. Complaint Hearings As required by Chapter 19-97(e), a notice was published in September specifying a period of ten days within which complaints may be filed by any taxpayer. One complaint was fled. The complaint was that the State of Hawaii is in violation of the United States Constitution, has no power to tax, and titles are fraudulent. He is objecting to the County's valuation of TMK 3-2-4-050-018. This complaint does not fall within the Board's jurisdiction. hoard Comments 1) The procedure of making decisions in open session on each appeal immediately upon completion of testimony by the tax office appraiser and the appellant continues to be accepted by all parties. 2) The practice of training new Board members is highly effective and encouraged to continue. 3) fihe presence of a recording secretary to take and compile the minutes of the meetings has been helpful to the members of the Board, and now in compliance with the law. 4) The half-day workshop among staff and Board members prior to commencement of hearings was helpful and encouraged to continue. hoard Recommendations 1) Time block scheduling should be further discussed at the first Organizational Meeting. 2) Rfforts should be made to distribute materials relating to each case as soon as possible prior to hearings. 3) A recording system was purchased for the Kona meetings as suggested by last year's Board. 4} Board should be allocated a budget for general operating expenses. closing ~®r~nnents Prior year's recommendations were taken into consideration. fihe tax office appraisers have been doing an excellent job in their presentations. G. chairman's ~omrnents 'T'he hoard members and all other have done a wonderful job, and it has been a pleasant experience working with them all. 2001 hoard of Review Annual Report Submitted by members of the hoard of Review. Bill Green, Chair an Fred Yamashiro, ice Chairman ~~G~- _ Brian Nakashima ° :'i' ?f , ~ ~®ga ware v>~~~~ ®avi Powe