HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 293 Draft 01 2008-2010
COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
STATE OF HAWAI'I
RESOLUTION NO.
293 1.0
A RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO
SUPPORT THE CONTINUED FUNDING OF TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS
T AX REVENUES TO THE COUNTIES AT CURRENT LEVELS.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Hawai'i Revised Statutes, Chapter 237D, the Transient
Accommodations Tax (TAT) is imposed in the State of Hawai'i on certain rental activity,
such as a hotel room, apartment, condominium, house, beach house, or similar living
accommodation that is rented for less than I80-consecutive days; and
WHEREAS, the TAT helps to cover expenses associated with tourism and the impact
it has on the islands; and
WHEREAS, on any given day, about 25,000 visitors are on the Big Island utilizing
the services that the County provides, such as police, fire, lifeguards, parks, water, mass
transit, solid waste disposal, and many other services that our visitors enjoy; and
WHEREAS, these essential services are provided as part of our agreement with the
State: We, the County and our taxpayers, share in the costs associated with those visitors and,
in return, we receive some reimbursement via the TAT; and
WHEREAS, although the State is struggling to balance its budget, the counties are
going through the same difficulties and are only seeking to retain their fair share of the TAT
revenues; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Hawai'i Revised Statutes, S237D-6.5, subsection (b),
paragraph (3), 44.8 per cent of the revenues collected from the TAT shall be transferred to the
four counties, and of that 44.8 per cent, Hawai'i County shall receive 18.6 per cent; and
WHEREAS, the TAT is Hawai'i County's second largest source of revenue, and
removing it will put a tremendous burden on our residents; and
WHEREAS, with Hawai'i County already facing an approximate budget shortfall of
$45 million, the complete elimination of TAT revenues will have dire consequences on our
operating budget and will result in the need to curtail and possibly eliminate services that will
negatively impact the public health, safety and welfare of our community; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it
urges the State Legislature and the Governor to work with the counties to ensure that we
continue to receive our fair share of the TAT revenues.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall forward a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Governor Linda Lingle; the Honorable Senator Donna
Mercado Kim, Ways and Means Committee Chair; the Honorable Representative Marcus
R. Oshiro, Finance Committee Chair; the Honorable Senate Vice President Russell S.
Kokubun; the Honorable Senator Josh Green; the Honorable Senator Dwight Y. Takamine;
the Honorable Representative Jerry L. Chang; the Honorable Representative Denny Coffman;
the Honorable Representative Cindy Evans; the Honorable Representative Faye Hanohano;
the Honorable Representative Robert N. Herkes; the Honorable Representative Mark
Nakashima; the Honorable Representative Clift Tsuji; the Honorable Mayor William P.
Kenoi; the Honorable Mayor Mufi Hannemann; the Honorable Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho,
Jr.; the Honorable Mayor Charmaine Tavares: and the Hawai`i State Association of Counties
Executive Committee.
Dated at Kona , Hawai'i, this 22nd day of January , 2010.
INTRODUCED BY:
Ca <-
CO - ' EMBER, •LINTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawaii AYES NOES ARS Ex
Hilo, Hawai`i ENRIQUES X
FORD X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by GREENWELL X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the HOFFMANN X
Count> of Hawari on January 22, 2010
IKEDA X
NAEOLE — BEASON X
ATTEST: ONISHI X
YAGONG X
YOSHIMOTO X
7 0 2 0
`� Reference: C- 676 /Waived FC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.
293 10
7