HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 101 05/20/2003 2002-2004REPORT OF THE,
COMMITTEE, ON FINANCE.
DA"h F.: May 20, 20113
PLACE.: Council Chambers
'DIME: 9:35 a.m.
Rc: Comm. '~o. 33 UBill No. 101
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
llilo. Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Finance. to which was referred Bill No. 101, reports as ibllo~tis:
Bill No. 101, transmitted by Director of Finance William Takaba, via Communication No. 22I.
dated April 14, 2003, amends Chapter 19 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 ~ 1995 F.dition)_
relating to real property taxes, by clarifying, native forest dedications.
Bill No. 1 UI proposes 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 Counte~s
watershed and ecosystems and encourage new native forest initiatives. The idea was to place
"native forests" in the same classification as "agriculture" which allowed native Ibrest properties
to receive lower assessments based on "productivity° values. 'i~hc law also established 20-year
nurire Joresl c(c~eliculion program to grant a tax advantage to owners who committed their
properties to the restrictive provisions of this program. Howeva~. since native tbrest properties
are in the agriculture section ol~the Hawaii County Code, property owners can receive the lov`
productivity assessments and participate year-to-year without dedicating the land to native forest
use. phis year-to-year assessment iti contrary to the long-term objectives of native liirest
preservation and restoration.
phis measure assigns the native forest dedication program to a unique section of Chapter 19
(Article 8, Section 19-59) and clarifies that the henefits for the native ~brest program arc
available only under this section.
During its discussion of Bill 1 UI, the following amendments were made. since the
agricultural revisions have not been passed.
1. Delete brackets on page two, ('_)(A)(i) /19-~3(Jl(1l nJ~Ih// and delete underscore /9-.i-.
Also change the word `of' to "or". Which should read as ~bllows:
(i) Real property which is valued according to its agricultural for native forests use
pursuant to subsection 19-53(t)(1) or (h),
FC RIiNOKI NO. 101
2. On page two, (2)(A)(ii)_ delete the rest of the sentence after "native liirest use". which
will read as follows:
(ii) Real properly which is dedicated to an agricultural use or nati~~e fi~rest use.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Rill No. 101, as amended
to Draft Z, and recommends it pass I first reading.
~mc
~~r:~ poi:. nit Sias
CHUNG X
SAFARIK X
ARA KAKI X
F,LARIONOFF X
HOLSCHUH X
JACOBSON X
LEITH EAD=TODD X
REYNOLDS X
'TY'LER X
IZ~spectfully submitted
CO f ?I? ON FINANCt?
~~' ., ~ J3,' 1~~
AAKON S.Y. CIIl~1NG, CIIAIK
PC RI-.POR'T N I
AD~IS'~rl~:u: J~l~ ~~t03