HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0653.004 2000-2002 ~a~tl ®6 y4~
Harry Kim ~ William Takaba
Mnyor ~ / ~ ' Director
- Nancy E. Crawford
~A•. Mg:^~~` Deputy Director
tE os •H'~
County of ~i~: ~ ~i ~ ' ;
Finance Departanent
25 Aupuni Street, Room 118 • Hi Hawaii 96720
(808) 961-8234 • Fax (808 -9618248
1 Y
~A~ August 13, 2002
`T~: The Honorable James Arakaki, Chairman,
and Members of the Hawaii County Council
~~®9~: Nancy Crawford~v
Deputy Finance Director
~ Real Property Tax Complaint
The attached letter was forwarded to our office. I initially drafted a letter of response,
but subsequently determined that the letter should have gone to the County Council. I
am forwarding the letter, along with my unsent response, which you may use or discard
at your discretion. I apologize for the delay in forwarding.
~I~ 1~4..
~d,ef. To;
inf.
July 26, 2002 Dom'', -
1.2Q02~
County of Hawaii
Board of Supervisors I ~ ~ '
25 Aupuni St.
.
Hilo, HI 96720
SUBJECT: REAL PROPERTY TAXES FELL: t..
REFERENCE: NANA~dALE ESTATES, PARCEL ID3-1-4-E}84-fD~k1=00@0=000
Dear Board Members:
I am OUTRAGED by the tax'bill 1 received in themail yesterday. We have owned this piece of property,
which is no more than a "pile of lava rock" for many years and have paid our taxes as well as the
Association Dues on this pile of rock with no complaint. Our assessed valuation of this property has gone
down..:down...down... over the years and is now at $2,244.04. Our taxes have been in the $25.04 range
which is in the neighborhood of an appropriate amount. Today, without any increase in the value, I
received a tax bill for $100.00! I called the tax office and was informed that you have voted on this
amount as a minimum tax. I do not believe this can be ethical, and further, would expect to have been
notified of this action since you are a public entity.
In California, the tax on this evaluation would be $22.00. I am 78 arrd my husband is 8fl; we can barely
keep up with our Medical Prescriptions, Doctors, etc......Now this! Please justify this increase by return
mail and explain to me what additional services you will provide for this outrageous increase.
Yours ly, ~
J es and Irma Alexander fPlb€B 6006?
9730 Soda Bay Rd. #8
Kelseyville, CA. 95451
_
qtl OF M
a1~.
Harry Kim William Takaba
Mayor Director
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Nancy E. Crawford
8i••:~,w, w
;:•OT Depury Director
T` OF'M~'~
County of ~Iadvaii
Finance Department
25 Aupuni Street, Room 118 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720
(808)961-8234 • Fax (808)961-8248
August 5, 2002
James & Irma Alexander
9730 Soda Say Rd. #8
Kelseyville, CA 95451
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Alexander,
Your concerns about taxes on your property in Nanawale have been forwarded to our
office. I understand that you were affected by the increase in the minimum real property
tax from $25 to $100.
Real property taxes are the primary source of revenue for the general fund, which
provides all of the basic services such as police protection, fire protection, civil defense,
solid waste management, parks and recreation services. Homeowners real property tax
rates were reduced in 1984, 1992 and 1993. Until this year there have been no
property tax increases. Rea! property tax revenue was $92.5 million in 1996 and $84.2
million in 2001. In spite of revenue drops, the County's population and demand for
services continue to increase.
The County has been tightening its belt for the last several years and the results have
been that services have not grown in proportion to needs. Repairs and maintenance to
facilities and replacement of needed equipment have been delayed. Further cuts to the
budget would have been very counterproductive in the levels of service and
infrastructure development to Hawaii Island.
In order to generate the revenues needed to fund government operations and meet the
cost of providing public services, the administration requested and the County Council
approved increases to real property tax rates and to the minimum tax.
I hope this provides the information you were seeking regarding the increases. We do
recognize the hardship that the new minimum tax presents, but we regret that it was
something that needed to be done. Thank you very much for expressing your concerns.
f I incerely, ~j
U v"
an y
¢ra ord
Deputy Director of Fi once