HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0151.008 2008-2010
TO: COUNTY COUNCIL
FR: MARGARET WILLE, WAIMEA RESIDENT
808-887-1419 maraaretwillena mac.com
RE: BILLS 151 AND 152: HI COUNTY BUDGET PROPOSALS
DATE: 3-30-09
AT THE 3/27/09 STATE WAYS AND MEANS BUDGET HEARING
WHAT WAS ABSENT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET REPORT:
WHAT WAS ABSENT FROM THE STATE LEGISLATOR RESPONSE;
WHAT WAS ABSENT FROM THE INPUT FROM THE MAYORS;
AND ABSENT FROM THE INPUT FROM MEMBERS OF THE
VARIOUS COUNTY% COUNCILS:
WAS A LACK OF NEW REVENUE GENERATING INITIATIVES:
INSTEAD EACH OF THESE CONSTITUENCIES WAS VYING TO
CONTROL THE SHINKING SIZED PIZZA: THE KENOI
ADMINISTRATION COUNTY BUDGET FAILS FOR THE SAME
REASON: IT IS ALL CUT PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF
BRAINSTORMING WAYS TO ADD MORE REVENUE STREAMS.
TO CUT TO THE BONE IS NOT THE PATH TO PROSPERITY.
AS OBAMA SAID ONE WAY OR ANOTHER FIND THE FUNDS -
FUND INITIATIVES THAT WILL CREATE JOBS AND PROSPERITY
NOT JUST SHORT TERM ECONOMIC PROPERSITY BUT SOCIAL
AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND LONG TERM ECONOMIC WELL
BEING. WE NEED TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE REVENUE
PIZZA AND BORROW OR DO WHATEVER BRIDGING IS
NECESSARY UNTIL WE GET THERE. OTHERWISE THESE BUDGET
HEARINGS PIT IMMEDIATE NEEDS AGAINST JOB CREATING
INITIATIVES
INCREASE DEBT SERVICE NOW: DEBT SERVICE IN THIS BUDGET
IS PROPOSED AT ABOUT 12% OF GENERAL EXPENDITURES,
WITH THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICE RECOMMENDING NO
MORE THAN 15%, WELL INSTEAD BE BOLD BORROW UP TO 20%
AND TELL EVERYONE, EVERY CONSTITUENT THAT WE NEED TO
WORK TOGETHER COOPERATIVELY. IF WE DON'T: IF WE HAVE
NOT RADICALLY INCREASED REVENUES AND SERVICES WITHIN
A 24 - 36 MONTH PERIOD, THAT ALL TAXES - REAL ESTATE AND
SALES TAXES WILL BE INCREASED. ACT BOLDLY IN THIS "THE
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TOGETHER WE CAN" PONO COURSE OF ACTION. INSTEAD OF
CREATING AN INCENTIVE FOR EVERYONE MAYOR KENOI IS
PROPOSING A KIM-ADMINISTRATION-STYLE "GET RID OF THIS
AND GET RID OF THAT" BUDGET - PITTING THOSE NEEDING
HELP AGAINST INITIATIVES THAT WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR
ECO-TOURISM EDUCATIONAL TOURISM AND WELLNESS
TOURISM JOBS.
PRESERVE MORE FAR-SIGHTED INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE 2%
FUND - BUT AT THE SAME TIME MAKE IT AN ECO-TOURISM
JOBS PROGRAM: PROTECT THE 2% BOND FUND DEPOSITS AND
LEVERAGE THOSE FUNDS INTO A 50 MILLION BOND THAT IS
NOT JUST IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE LAND BUT WOULD
PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR NATURE BASED - LAND BASED
TOURISM... (WHICH, IN CASE YOU DO NOT KNOW, IS THE
FASTEST GROWING TOURISM MARKET; THAT IS: ECOTOURISM,
WELLNESS -FITNESS TOURISM, AG TOURISM, AND ADVENTURE
TOURISM --AS OPPOSED TO SIGHTSEEING TOURISM)
THE 2% OPEN SPACE FUND: AS COUNCILMEMBER GUY
ENRIGUES AND OTHERS SUGGESTED-- TAKE THE LIST OF
POSSIBLE ACQUISITION PROPERTIES -AND KNOCK OUT THE
ONES WITHOUT WILLING SELLERS AND COME UP WITH A
BUNDLE OF PARCELS AND TRAILS AND OTHER ACQUISITIONS,
THAT WILL PROVIDE NATURAL RESOURCE PRESERVATION AND
ALSO ECO-TOURISM PLATFORMS - PARTNER WITH NON-
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND PRIVATE PARTIES: MOVE ON
THESE INITIATIVES SO THEY ARE "DEED SIGNING -JOB
OPPORTUNITY READY".
EXAMPLES OF HOW TO RAISE REVENUE: NEW "BILLPAYERS"
1. TAX REZONINGS OF AG LANDS (THEY ARE
RECLASSIFICATIONS, NOT DEVELOPMENT--- AND THERE
IS NO LACK OF THESE REZONING APPLICATIONS
2. REQUIRE REASONABLE FEES FOR THOSE SUBMITTING
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS... THE P.U.D. AND
SUBDIVISION APPLICATION FEES ARE NOMINAL, AND YET
THE ENGINEERING AND PLANNING REVIEW SERVICES ARE
MONUMENTAL AND OF HIGH VALUE. (E.G. KI EMLER AND
CREW IN KONA)
3. DISALLOW THE AG TAX RATE FOR ALL AG LAND WITH
RESIDENCES UNLESS THERE ARE FARM REVENUES
4. PASS IMPACT FEES ON NEW COMMERCIAL
DEVELOPMENTS AND SUBDIVISIONS THAT DO NOT
REQUIRE REZONING - AT THE 100% LEVEL BUT JUST FOR
ROAD AND CERTAIN PUBLIC FACILITIES;
5. AT THE SAME TIME CUT BACK ON THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING REQUIREMENTS RATHER THAN INCLUDING
COMPLEX DIFFICULT TO MANAGE EXCEPTIONS TO THOSE
RULES- AND INSTEAD PROVIDE FOR EVEN MORE MASS
TRANSIT AND OTHER ASSISTANCE THAT IS HELPFUL TO
THOSE WHO MUST COMMUTE LONG DISTANCES;
6. HIRE SOMEONE TO FIND GRANTS AND LOANS NOT JUST
FOR THE COUNTIES BUT FOR NON-PROFITS AND FOR
PARTNERSHIP EFFORTS - INTERIOR, DOD, DOT, AG AND
PRIVATE PARTIES: THEY CAN BE PAID FROM WHAT FUNDS
ARE OBTAINED.
7. MAKE BETTER USE OF OUR NATURAL ASSETS AND
EXISTING TOURISM DRAWS - LIKE EXPANDING BASED ON
THE IRON MAN COMPETITION---FOR EXAMPLE, DO
QUALIFYING EVENTS HERE- DO A BIKE A THON AROUND
THE ISLAND;
8. MAKE SURE HAWAII COUNTY GETS THE MULTI-MILLION
DOLLAR TELESCOPE SO THAT IT DOES NOT GO TO CHILE -
BUT PROMISE TO DO IT RIGHT SO AS TO PROTECT THE
HAWAIIAN CULTURAL INTERESTS-AND COMBINE WITH
THE RECREATIONAL RENAISSANCE PROGRAM-PAY
ATTENTION TO THE DLNR HEARING THAT WILL BE
SCHEDULED IN APRIL;
9. REDRAFT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S SUBDIVISION
AND P.U.D. RULES SO THAT THEY ARE STRAIGHT
FORWARD WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT
ARE KNOW UP FRONT REMEMBER DELAYS ARE
USUALLY BECAUSE THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING TO GET
THROUGH AN EXCEPTION OR REDUCE REQUIREMENTS;
10. STOP CATERING TO PET CONSTITUENCIES -SUCH AS BY
ALLOWING CERTAIN LANDOWNER DEVELOPERS TO
CIRCUMVENT THE RULES - AND THEN END UP IN AN
EXPENSIVE LAWSUIT.... AS WITH HOKULIA AND PARKER
RANCH (HAD PARKER RANCH NOT AGREED TO SETTLE
WITH MY LAWSUIT); AND FOR EXAMPLE STOP STALLING
KEY ROADS - LIKE THE LALAMILO CONNECTOR ROAD;
I LINSTEAD OF EXEMPTION-DEDUCTION FOR EACH CHILD ON
INCOME TAXES, IF ANYTHING, THERE SHOULD BE AN
ADDED TAX FOR EACH CHILD - GIVEN THE IMPACT ON
ALL PUBLIC FACILITIES;
12. WORK WITH HMSA TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF
"EMPLOYEE" SO THAT ANY PERSON THAT HIRES
SOMEONE TO WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS REGARDLESS
OF THE NUMBER OF HOURS, AT THEIR BUSINESS
LOCATION, MUST PAY SOME HEALTH INSURANCE FOR
THAT PERSON.... BUT KEEP THE INSURANCE RATE LOW -
BY HAVING IT BE FOR ONLY MEDICAL EXPENSES OVER
SOME SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT (I.E. MANY MORE
PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES AND THIS WOULD STOP SO
MANY EMPLOYERS FROM MANIPULATING THEIR
WORKERS HOURS AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS TO AVOID THIS
HIGH COSTING WORKER BENEFIT);
13.ASK EVERY RESIDENT FOR AN IDEA HOW TO RAISE
ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND WORK TOGETHER TO DO THIS;
14. WORK WITH THE CDP STEERING COMMITTEES, THE CDP
ACTION COMMITTEES, AND ENVISON HILO - TO ADDRESS
ISSUES ON A REGIONAL LEVEL;
15. ASK EVERY RESIDENT TO BECOME A MENTOR OR
VOLUNTEER AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL - TO COUNTER THE
MASSIVE LOSS OF PAID FACULTY;
16. MAKE SURE YOU HOLD ON TO THE TAT REVENUES.... AND
THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO PROPOSE SOME REVENUE
GENERATING INITIATIVES TO THE STATE AND STAY IN
COMMUNICATION... SO THE MAYORS ARE NOT AGAIN
ACCUSED OF NOT COMING TO THE TALK BUDGET STORY -
TABLE WITH STATE LEGISLATORS:--- TELL THEM TO DIG
UP NEW REVENUE STREAMS JUST AS OTHER STATES ARE
DOING-EVEN IF IT MEANS NOT BEING ABLE TO
CONTINUE BEING PATERNALISITIC ABOUT PERSONAL
MATTERS. FOR EXAMPLE CALIFORNIA IS PROPOSING TO
TAX MARIJUANA RATHER THAN SINK FURTHER INTO THE
FINANCIAL BLACK HOLE. E.G. HAWAII COULD CONSIDER:
¦ ALLOWING CIVIL UNIONS (WEDDING TOURISM)
¦ HIGH STAKES BINGO (SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED ON
THE SUPER FERRY UNTIL THE EA FINALIZED
¦ REVISE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS
TO STREAM LINE AND INSTEAD HAVE SOME CLEAR CUT
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS WITH MINIMAL
EXCEPTIONS.
¦ TAX AG REZONINGS, IMPOSE SCHOOL IMPACT FEES, ETC.
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