HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0533.044 2000-2002
May 13 02 08:51a Tom a Lynn Langenstein 808-323-3111 p.l
KONA
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Thomas Langenstein, Director ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ P.0 Box l l65
License no. MAT - 927 Capt Cook, Hawaii 96704
MAE - 305 (808) 323-311 i
a-mail: shiatsu(~i~?awaii.nct
Fax Transmission
Date: 5-13-02
fio: County Council McYnbers Fax No.: 961-8912
Of: I-Iawaii County Council
From: Thomas Langenstein No. of pages: 2
Re: 'fax Rate I-Iike
Aloha,
As presently presented I do not support the Mayor's tax rate h17ce plan. I airl unable to attend the
May 16~' hearing, so please include this as testimony to that hearing.
Sincerely,
two
mas i,angenstein
Comm. No, •
Fite No.
Rey'. To:''`
het. flare ~~Y 1
day 13 02 08:51a Tom ~ Lynn Langenstain 808-323-3111 p•2
County Council members May 11,2002
25 ~upuni St.
IIi1o, I-iawaii
Thorns Laalgenstein
P,O. Eox 1165
Capt. Cook, Hawaii 96704
Aloha County Council members and Mayor Kim,
I support coaglments reported iffi Vest Iiawaii Today made by County Councilpersons
I,eithead-Todd and JElarionoffthat revenues in homeowner class are not paying for their
share of County Services and that it's time to get beak to reality and pay for services
received. i take issue however, with these representative's implications that I-Iawaii
County is in a budget deficit because Nest Ilawaii residents are not paying their fair
share for services received. 4lvest I~Iawaii residents, because of the way the County holrie
exemption is structured, pay a disproportionately high aanount in real property taxes
while receiving a disproportionately louver aanoualt in public facilities and services.
Thank you Mayor ICinx for stating the underlining need in taking up the issue of our
Caunty governineaat setting a minilnuros standard for public services that is fairly tied to
tax revenues. I feel this and an abysmal plaranirag process is the tree nature of why our
County is currently facing budget deficit crises. Unfortunately, raisiaag takes and
promising to take up fairness at a later date, a function of the County Council, is a
promise I feel few in ~7est I~awaii are confident will be kept. So fag°, widespread support
for County Coualcil person Nancy Pisicchio's ca11 for raising the minilmm~ hoaraeowner
tax fee to 5200 has not beers expressed by allyone but herself: This type of inequity is
what pronypts people in VV'est Ilawaii to call for a separate west I~awaii County.
~Je have heard our County Council Chair, quoted that the County plannicag approval
process has used "ianproving" .land values as a ffiethod to raise County revenues. If the
Council majority would address the issue of sustained irnprovelnent in quality of life in
concert with that revenue enhaalcerraent we could actually hope to fend a way out of this
rrless. ~1Je continue to have the roads, parks, walk ways ~c bike paths, draiaaage ways,
police ~ fire protection, etc... designed for art agriculturaIIy coned area while loopholes
continue to increase density, urban and suburban uses on these properties.
Sustainable growth could fairly happen if developlnent and tax revenues were based on a
eonsistent, across the board, mininluaxl standard of facilities and services. This reasonably
should be tied to paying a fair share of property taxes based on observed zoning Iaws that
support established rrainilxaurra standards of infrastructure. Equity is sorizething that
residents in west ~Iawaii have been calling for a long tiraae. VJe all want I Iawaii Coullty
to prosper, l respectfully a~ that wh17e considering a tax hike yoga address the coaaeept of
fairly providing services seed equity in payment for public facilities and services received.
Sincerely,
~1y-LL'i~
( Tlioana5 I,angenstetn
CC: vVest I-Iawaii Today, Mayor ICim