HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 148 10/26/1999 1998-2000 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: October 26, 1999 Re: Comm. No. 480/Bill No. 143
PLACE: Councilroom
TIMF,: 10:30 A.M.
Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 143, reports as follows:
Bill No. 143, transmitted by Deputy Corporation Counsel Gerald Takase, via Communication
No. 480, dated October 7, 1999, amends Chapter 19, Section 19-89, Hawaii County Code, relating to real
property tax exemptions.
Section 19-89, Hawaii County Code currently includes references to certain real property exemptions that are
no longer valid or under the control of the County. These references include Chapter 186, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, tree farms, which was repealed by the legislature in 1989 and adopted by the County in Section 19-
78, Hawaii County Code; Chapter 239, which exempts public service companies which pay the public service
company tax to the State in lieu of real property taxes; and Chapter 514A, which grants exemptions to
condominiums, which is recognized in Section 19-71, Hawaii County Code.
Members of Your Committee were concerned with possible impacts of deleting the reference to Chapter 239
which exempts public service companies that pay the public service company tax to the State in lieu of real
property taxes.
Currently, public service companies are exempt from paying real property taxes directly to the County.
Rather, these companies pay I % of their gross earnings to the State as a public service company tax. The
County of Hawaii has pending litigation against the State of Hawaii for the collection of their portion of the
public service company tax. However, to achieve this the County must delete this exemption.
Also of concern to Your Committee was the differing exemptions, which are listed under Section 19-89,
"Exemptions for certain Hawaiian Homes property, and other agencies." Members felt it would be mare
efficient to have the exemptions of "other agencies" placed in a separate section. Although an official
amendment was not made, Deputy Corporation Counsel Gerald Takase will submit a new bill addressing this
matter.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 143 and recommends it pass
first reading. d , { . ; , r,
Ici A 4` ~ ~ '
nye, N°~ nays xx Respectfully submitted
CHUNG X
ELARIOrvoEF x COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
JACOBSON X ^
LEITHEAD-TODD X //v^,l~"/'1r
PISICCHIO X
SMITH X
TvLER x AARON S.Y. CHUNG, CHAIR
vACONG X FC REPORT NO. 148
ARAKAKI, E.O.M. ADOPTED: OEC O ~ 1999