HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0533.045 2000-2002
FRAM SANDRA SCARR T0T FAX N0. 808 322-9449 May. 13 2002 12:05PM P1
~`eter N~artin
,
'~~-431 ~~ne St~ ~ . I i ~,j ~
I~ilu~-lKo».a, X196740
. .
H[aw<tii Coum~ty Council Q /
25 t~upursi Street ' 6 (2
Hilo, HI 96720
] Council Idlembors:
fibs hoard of directors of C~R~ must go on record as strongly opposing the proposed
property tax increase. F~arfier this year, at a public niceting isz I~ you acknowledged
to the asseffibied citizenry t you ua~derstood their frustration wsth the ~ inequities
~ the Coursty tax code. Further, you agreed that the .Y„n;mum. tax on real estate eaeould be
increased fi°oxn the present ludicrously low $25 to a slightly less ridiculous $140. °Then
you retre.~ed back to 1.1410 and broke your prorraise. Many households still pay a $ZS tax,
but you have fibs e~ontery to propose inc,~asing our ta~zes by 25%.
Recently, Mr. Arakak~ in a mortaent of extreme and unguarded candor, educated all those
in West Hawaii ®vha y not ,have already understood that the Hilo governYnent
considers our dis~icts as nothing more or Less than cash cows. ;<Ie inforsssed us t)sat we
shouldn't worry about the deficit because increased revenues frosty continued
development ins West I~awaii would soon make up the shortfall. Well, Ndr. Arakaki was
night, beat we won't evert have to wait far nacre developsneat to see his prediction conic
true. Many households ins bast l~lawaii will still pay only $25, even with the t~ i~acrease,
but 'West ]Elawaii tax payers, who already a~4-up snore Haan 62% (other sources call zt
closer to 75%) of the tax revue of the County, will provide a disproportionate share of
the anczeases to make up the shortfall.
Mr. ~lariono~tells us that ..."it's times to get back to reality and pay for the services we
receive." 1 guess our co~laint, Mr. Elariono~ would be that e?v~ Isave been pay4t9g, but
soffi~ne else is apparently getting ali thane services you leave alluded to.
Ads. I,eithead--Todd claims that tive in West Hawaii are not opposed to tax increases.
-@Vell, yes Ms. Loithe~-Todd we are, in fact, adamantly opposed! ~Ve are sick and tired
of being ignored by everyone ins. the County goverrtffient except the tax collector! Htzt
even now many of us would be will'uag to pay a bit more, ~esi that tax burdens are
equalized and everyone pays theme fare share. And, that 'West HawAlj gets desperately
needed iofras~uture, not just soothing words frons the Mayor aboux hour he feels our
l while we sit ire perpetual. traffic Jams.
°t'he CERG board offers a .modest proposal to those of you on t~ Councs~ evvho really do
event to solve our dal problerrtS. First, tn, ' Ai,s or immediszely institute s County
employee-hiring freeze. it:educe the size of the payroll by attritions loo rt now! Second,
issue a public statc~crst, with na room. in it for iaterpretarion, ~ there ~~ll be no public
L'OYYtYf'l. Nos '
File No.
x~~. °ra:
~e f. Date ~ AY ~`5
FROM SANDRA SCARR TBT FAX ND. 808 322-9449 May. 13 2002 12:05PM P2
employee pay raises while we struggle with a budget deficit. Gi~~g. raises to
gove~aent effiployees whilc many p~pie in the "real economy's are having a Ord time
paying ttheir propeaty taxes is irresponsible. T1~iird, f nd the courage to reform the
propexty tax system so tliax everyonc shares the burden of supporting County services.
Fourth, spread the wealth around. Co~9Tntunities need services and infx~astrtacttyre, not
erngtY promises.
We challenge those Co~cil members v+ho are wthappy wifrh this iae~uitable tax increase
to votc `~o" and. kip on voting "no" uzttil the entire Coaiacil to the d tely
n~cled reforms. Dam the deficit and damn the cries of "we sna~st be th+c ba~d~et".
If yo~x stand fast thcre w:71 be no choice lc~ bad tv fsx the system. And, if you stand. fast
and "do the right thing", you vmill be heroes to your constitues~9s snd s shoo-in for re-
cleotion.
Aloha,
Peter Martin fir the CE12Cir ~osrd of I3irectors