HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0620.057 2002-2004
?'Jn O1 04 lO:Ola Richard Hoeflinger (808)982-7324 p.l
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FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION
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FAX No. 9~~--~a9~Z Date o6-o~~oQ.
From: Richard Hoeflinger
FAX No. (808) 982-7324
Telephone No. (808) 982-5094
No. Pages Transmitted (including cover
sheet) 2
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.;un O1 04 10:01a Riehard Hoeflinser (8081982-7324 p.2
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Keaaa, Hawaii 96749
Phone (808)982-5094
Faz (808?982-7324
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June 1, 2004
Testimony on Hawaii County Bi11270 - In Opposition
Bill 270 mandates a set aside of a portion of county tax revenue annually to
purchase land "for public use". Passage of such a law will increase the tax
burden on island residents.
In concept, l support the acquisition of additional land for public recreation -
most people do. If Bill 270 described in detail the land that was targeted for
acquisition, and more importantly, if it contained a mitigating clause that
removed an equivalent expenditure from the county budget, I might be
inclined to support it.
My real concern is the county's insatiable appetite to spend other people's
money. There is little chance that other spending will be reduced to offset
the 0.5 to 2 percent proposed annual cost for land purchase. Therefore, this
bill is a tax increase - a well disguised one, but a tax increase nonetheless.
Like many other older residents, I survive on a modest fixed income. That
survival is threatened by increasing medical costs and higher taxes. When I
want something, I have to give up something in return. County government
should be prepared to do the same.
My property tax bill was quadrupled last year to make it "fair". I've always
wondered why "fair" means raising one person's tax rather thazi lowering
another's, but that's another story. And while the state was grappling with
legislation to reduce fuel costs, the county recently proposed raising ours.
The' point is, all these "modest" incremental increases in the cost of living
have a collectively large impact on those of us with limited income. Bill 270
is merely the latest in the series. Perhaps well intentioned, I urge you to
reconsider this flawed proposal.