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fo: Stacy K. Higa, Chair
County Council
From: Donald Ikeda ~ ~Q
Councilmember
Date: May 4, 2005
SubjccC Bill 78, Relating to Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources
Preservation Fund
I move to amend the proposed Section 2-225 (c) as follows:
"In adopting each fiscal year's budget and capital budget, the council shall
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appropriate [ ^`'°w! to the Public Access, Open
Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund a minimum of $100,000 to a
maximum of $1 000 000 per year until the fund has accumulated $5 000 000."
'T'he Council Members have continually praised the departments for their resourcefulness
in obtaining grants in supplementing the operating and capital budgets. We should be no
different and Councilmember Holschuh has brought forth a plan that assesses our
community giving resources. If the majority of the voters of the Big Island want the
County to purchase land, then the philanthropic fundraiser should be a "SLAM DUNK".
We all hate budgeting by government mandates. This is another mandate. One of the
worst examples practiced by the County is the Human Services grant, where $900,000 is
set aside regardless of the County's fiscal condition. Budgeting by mandates bypasses
the principle rule of placing hard-earned tax dollars to areas where it is most needed.
Government mandates take their share from the budget first, leaving the balance for
government services. County agencies should not compete for precious tax dollars with
additional government mandates, especially one that takes from a percentage of real
property taxes.
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We have zoning laws, which permit us to place conditions on all developments.
Kohaniki is proof that we can spare the Island's beauty without spending huge amounts
of money.
Again, if the majority of the taxpayers of the Big Island want this Bill to purchase land,
then a second option is the implement a special real property tax. This should also be a
'`SLAM DUNK". We would need to increase Real Property Tax rates for the
Homeowner Class by $0.11 and other classes by $0.20. Better yet, the State of Hawaii
should increase the conveyance tax! Purchasers of land should pay to preserve land not
real property tax payers.
Has anyone thought about the County's Fund Balance and what is considered a sufficient
reserve? The cost of government will not decrease and the cost for this purpose, a luxury
item, should be considered in the same category as the user fees.