HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0221.000 2002-2004 MtV or NI
Harry Kim ~_c~ ~ ~~j~o William Takaba
Mayor Direc(or
Nancy E. Crawford
Ueputy Direc(or
• of Mr
County of Hawaii
Finance Department
25 Aupuni Sheet, Room 118 • Ililo, Hawaii 96720
(RO8) 961-8234 • Fax (808) 961-8248
April 14, 2003
Honorable James Arakaki, Chairperson and
Members of the County Council
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chairman Arakaki:
Enclosed is a Bill for an Ordinance amending Chapter 19, of the Hawaii County Code, relating to
real property taxes, by clarifying native forest dedications. The purpose of this measure is to
align the native forest provisions of the real property tax code with the intent of the original law
passed in 1996, which was to preserve and restore the County's watershed and ecosystems and
encourage new native forest initiatives.
Placing "native forests" in the same section as "agriculture" allowed native forest properties to
receive lower assessments based on "productivity" values. The law also established a 20-year
native forest dedication program to grant a tax advantage to owners who committed their
properties to the restrictive provisions of this program.
What actually happens, however, is that since native forest properties are in the agriculture
section of the code, they can receive the lower productivity assessments and participate year-to-
year without dedicating the land to native forest use. This year-to-year assessment is contrary to
the long-term objectives of native forest preservation and restoration.
The enclosed Bill assigns the native forest dedication program to a unique section of Chapter 19
(Article 8, Section ] 9-59) and clarifies that the benefits for the native forest program are
available only under this section.
Sincerely ours,
9'
William T aba
Director
APPROVED:
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Harry Ki Ref. Uote ePR
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Mayor
Enclosure
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