HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0533.051 2000-2002 } r,.~.~..J~ ~~.q~~-,,r~ ~-~-y ~ ~ 1..~ Page 1 of 2
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Subj: 1a61est Hawaii Against Tax Increase
Date: 5/11/02 10:13:50 PM Hawaiian Standard Time
From: SandraScar
To: todda~i~interpac.net, c4ylercDinterpac.net, nanc interpac,net, dya~ong~interpac-net,
e! aranoff~i nterpac. net
RECEi'V ~
~'r~~: ~~t~~r~ Starr ~~~e------------------ Br---~
~8®
~c~a~t~ ~ ~re~~~€°~y ~`~c inc~°~ase ,,,~c~,~ry co~nctl f J
I. ~~'d-~`~ri3i "~or~ Tax incw~~~~g
a. Reform Tax dates: A property tax increase will disproportionately impact West Hawaii residents, because
East Hawaii has lower property values and mega-exemptions. Thousands pay only $25/year. `They will not
pay a penny more. East Hawaii must pay its fair share for county services.
b. Deform Cour~ty__~ovemm~nt: County government does not make efficient use of tax money now; why give
them more?
c. West Hawaii has been terribly short-changed for 25 years, according to Mayor Kim (and we notice the poor
roads, few parks, abandoned cars, broken toilets in county facilities, etc.)
d. Mayor Kim has had 17 months to come up with a plan to reform county govemment, to give West Hawaii a
fairer share. He has not done it. Why give him more of our money?
e, C~~-t ~+~n i 7ia~y~ Tars: The County must live within its means, just as any company or
family would have to do.
f. A downsized county government will hardly be noticed in West Hawaii, because we get so few services
now.
g. Cost-cuing bogin~ .~itl~ p~:rsonrs~l, the largest expense in the operating budget. Through attrition,
layoffs, and elimination of positions in Hilo, county govemment can be balanced with available resources.
h. Get rid of county employees who commute on taxpayers' money to work in West Hawaii. Eliminate their
jobs and create those jobs in Kona.
i. ~~r~ ~lc~s iii i=~xt 5 j :~3 ~ioj~~ tft ~'f?~f t~l~ y~~r's ~hori-fall. A tax increase this
year will be followed by still greater taxes on West Hawaii to fund an unrepentant Hilo govemment.
j. Once ~>t give ili-d coui~iy e~o~e of our nior;ey, it~:•vy bare no reason to refori? go;s:rii~^a•~Y; they .gill
jus4 k~~p i~'iilking :"X~st ~aaii Fhc cash cov:. P!!®0=0! ,rt~OrtO!
:taa-nf to ~~!I Co~r~cil rn~~l~~s ~~;K•f~v<~-T odd ~'t€. I elon't support a s~.x oncrsg.
I ~~aant to tell Council rr~srak~r Elarionoff that West I~lawaii is paying far rreore tln ~~e r~c~lve in county
~s~ric~s.
I t~ant to tell a!I tlz~ Council rn~'~~ta~rs tl~ I w°an4 reform of the tax system, r~~#o~ of Cou~y
gor~rnrrn~:~t, and do~~~e~si~ing county go;;~~rnes~€ to t~al~nce tla~ budc~
III. !~.Gtonisltir'~g !f~~Fz:id!%?tFOrt
Hawaii County Real Property tax revenues by District may interest you. I used the 2000 census figures to~.
calculate per capita (resident) tax revenues per district. The tax data came from Gary Kiyoto in the Real
Property Tax Office in Hilo.
West Hawaii contributes more than twice as much to County revenue as East Hawaii, even though the ~ ~
Sunday, May 12, 2002 America Online: SandraScar ~ ~ ~ ~
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population is only 72®~ as large (62,128 versus 8f,549). ~fhe per capita ratio of tax contributions is even more
stunning: West Hawaii enterprises and residents contribute 3.15 times as much as fast Hawaii, psr capita.
fihis means that ~#x~x~ tt<~#~~~.i~ ~~~~~~gr., ;~~d ~f~~s ~~:#:~"~~~x~.~~l 4~ i`3~ ~-s~~~#
_
~'::4rs',~~~"l~ ~~~#~fi~#~c£:~~`? ~~i f7'Sts'Sa:'i ~~~y r f f~ s~~ ~;f ~t: ~$#a~ ~f'~r`#~~[~:f~ c'?~ ~>;1..: 3i ~'3.~a~ ~..ss''c`f4s#"'.
Sometimes, when I look at the crumbling, narrow roadways, the traffic jams, and the lack of connecting
Strs~etS In Wes$ l'lawaii, I wonder at the poli$ical system that has deprived us of our own money for so long.
ERPllayor Kim has nc>t fixed the grossly disproportionate spending on fast Hawaii. One can be bitter, or one can
refuse to be victimized any 4onger. Council will make a decision on tax rates. We will campaign and vote.
Starr Family Farm t?aily Fix Coffee
77-6222 Kaumaiumalu ®rive, Holualea, l-ll 35725
(808) 322-9445; (808) 938-3644; Fax: (808) 322-9449
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Sunday, May 12, 2002 America Online: SandraScar