HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0193.108 2008-2010
Murashige, Laura
From: GeoMike5@att.net
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 3:15 PM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us 009 ~~Y 1$ p.
Subject: testimony for May 20 Bill 49 Land Fund attachment
//C~~J 0nl'1T1.::
Testimony of Michael Reimer, Kailua-Kona, GeoMike5@att.net before the Hawaii County
Council on BILL 49, second reading, Taking of the Land Fund Revenues, May 20, 2009.
I tried to look at this taking of the land fund revenues from an objective standpoint. As _
many of you know, I am very concerned of the precedent that you would set by attaching
revenue sources dedicated for specific purposes and redirecting them. So I tried to look
at this issue, from the other side, so to speak.
From that position, I do not see that this issue is about anything other than the land
fund. If this fund were established to provide supplements to kidney dialysis or school
lunches, would there still be the interest in the taking? One might state that the people
of the island need jobs more than land or beaches or parks or open space. But that does
not ring true when there are over 400 funded vacancies in the budget.
I presume some Council members do not favor this use of property tax to purchase land and
with a so-called budget crisis, this is an opportunity to starve that fund. This action
is proposed for only two years but with a wink and nod it would he extended indefinitely.
We are not at the point of budget crisis because when we are, the Mayor could declare one
and impose special powers.
The exponent can say funds such as this are so easy to pillage in order to support the
important things such as pay increases, and ever-enlarging overtime accounts, and more
funded vacancies, and endless contract rebidding, and bulldozer leases. Ignore the
$millions you could save by improving efficiency in government. That takes real work and
dedication to find and correct. Get money the easy way; take it from the people;
redirect their wishes because you know better than they what is good for them. But, it
doesn't wash, now or in the long run.
So, if you believe this is the only option from the multitude of suggestions that have
come your way, and you don't mind dismissing aloha as some historical footnote, and if you
feel the spiritual power that exists in this island will not be offended by your action,
then by all means, embarrass yourself today and vote to support the Mayor in grabbing the
revenue from this fund.
comm. No. 193-100t,
Ref. To. cew-rLdl
Ref, Data MAY 2 0 2009
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