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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0533.033 2000-2002 Page 1 of 1 Cur4is Tyler From: "Robert Corsair" <konabook@ilhawaii.net> To: "Curt Tyler iii (E-mail)" <ctyler@interpac.net> Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 11:00 AM Subject: Tax or spend Curtis, I see divergent views on how to solve the revenue shortages in the papers. What is the consensus on this issue? I suspect it is no tax rise! ! ! How could this happen where did the shortage come from. Tax receipts in the county come basically from the property tax, I assume How else could it go. There are new houses going up all the time and more than ever are in the ~ir~~-•------- By-..-_..--_~ upper value range, vacant land last year is now worth millions and unused ry~---•------•--------- land now is heavily used. Is the impact of these development greater than ~~~1~~~m the fee for the impact. Just where is the shortage coming from. I assume that the answer will be hotel room tax revenue or other gifts from the state or federal government along with too much optimism about the constant nature of these sources of revenue. I have no answers or suggestions but I ask how can small businesses or land holders pay for more and more. They get few if any benefits from the state or county. Large business and retailers have been given dispensations from taxes of all kinds to get them to open here. The new big retailers put a severe burden on the small businesses of the Island who are then asked to carry the new burdens. Likewise the small farmers. I know that the deficit has to be dealt with but the basic structure and philosophy must be rethought. I am not averse to paying more taxes, my neighbor says we are under taxed and I agree, but will it be used to pick up garbage, draw off sewage, speed police to crises, or send firefighters to save a child. For that I am willing to pay as well as for swimming pools ,parks and quality of life things. I reject paying for larger county payrolls, pay rises (I am asked to pay more taxes when I have not a decent pay rise in 7 years) or give always to large predatory retailers. Furthermore, I see signs of vigilantism in Kailua now over the sign problem. New banner signs appear daily new sandwichboards going up but in the morning they are often knocked over and turned to the ground. There is a proliferation of announcements mostly for music events on the telephone polls which I must confess are taken down by me every morning. I think I am only one of many who deplore the sign anarchy. Sincerely Robert Corsair Middle Earth Book Shoppe 75-5719 Alii I3rive Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96740-173 8 Ph:808-329-2123 Cor~tan. l~oa File loo. Ref. fio Ref. 13a ~ ~ ~ ~ . 4/8102 _ _ ~ p~,~ ~ / / C./ 'fi`rr ( ~ /r ,~s ~ rr~~~ ~ ~ c~ 9~ ~ ~ o~ ire ~:~~~s ~ ~ ~ f ~i~ ~ h~~~~~ , - ~ ~ _ fox ~ ~ ~ ~