Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> <br /> <br /> DATE: April 7, 2009 Re: Comm. No. 193/Bill No. 49 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> TIME: 11:00a.m. <br /> <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> <br /> Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 49, reports as follows: <br /> <br /> Bill No. 49, transmitted by Finance Director Nancy Crawford, via Communication No. 193 dated <br /> March 3, 2009, amends Chapter 2, Article 42, Section 2-214 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2005 <br /> Edition, as amended) relating to the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation <br /> Fund. This amendment suspends the transfer of 2% of real property tax revenue, including penalties and <br /> interest, to the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund, effective January 1, <br /> 2009. In addition, the amendment will also eliminate the minimum transfer amount of $250,000 that is <br /> currently required in the Hawaii County Code. <br /> <br /> Councilmember Naeole stated that she thought it was a good suggestion to take this issue to Public <br /> Hearing. She gave her support to the 2% fund because she didn't want her district to end up like Kona <br /> with no open spaces. <br /> <br /> Councilmember Ford stated that she didn't feel like the Finance Department was actively negotiating to <br /> purchase property. Finance Director Nancy Crawford stated that the county spent a lot of time negotiating <br /> for Kawa but that they had to break off when a deal could not be reached. Ms. Ford indicated that four <br /> good ideas were brought forward to create revenue without using the 2% fund. She cited reassessing <br /> undervalued resort property, unfunding vacant positions within the County of Hawaii, better management <br /> on Capitol Improvement Projects to eliminate cost overruns, and impact fees on all rezone applications as <br /> other ways to generate revenue without violating the will of the people. <br /> <br /> Councilmember Ikeda stated he had a hard time supporting the purchase of more land when the County of <br /> Hawaii could not maintain the land it already had. He cited poor maintenance of park land in his district <br /> as an example. <br /> <br /> Councilmember Enriques stated he believed that the committee was not hearing from the silent majority <br /> that would support Bill 49. He encouraged all council members to take the next two weeks to really find <br /> out what the people in their communities really thought about this issue. <br /> <br /> Councilmember Hoffmann motioned to amend Bill No. 49 with the contents of communication 193.39. <br /> The amendment was approved 9-0. Mr, Hoffmann's amendment put the regularly scheduled June 20, <br /> 2009 payment back into the 2% fund to give the fund a balance of $10.8 million at the end of this fiscal <br /> year. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> FC Report No.: 49 <br /> Page 1 <br />