HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0687.004 2008-2010Murashige, Laura L r �'�L)
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From: Debbie Hecht [hecht.deb @gmail.com] 7019 APR 19 ' afl 8
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 6:11 PM
To: dikeda @co.hawaii.hi us; donishi @co.hawaii hi.us; enaeole @co.hawaii.hi.us; B naj;,Councti-t., rfr,i[
testimony; Dominc Yagong; Enriques, Guy; Ford, Brenda; Greenwell, Kelly, J S" T Pete
Hoffman; keoff @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Comm. 687.1- Report from the Charter Commission _on the LAND FUND
Aloha Council Members-
As you know the charter commission has been meeting since January. Many of the 2% supporters have
attended almost every meeting. We are very frustrated. Over 100 people sent emails to the commission
and at 100 people took time out of their busy lives to show up and testify in front of the commission.
All of these voters testified about a 2% Land Fund, not a 1/4% Land Fund and not a 1% Land Fund.
We ask that you recommend that the charter commission reinstate the 2% amount, as voters approved by
63% in 2006. People in your districts are upset that you cut the 2% deposits for 2 years. This will be a
campaign issue for the 2010 campaign season.
Please consider recommending that the charter commission include the following in their proposed
charter amendment CA -15 The Land Fund:
1. The amount that shall be deposited at least twice per year shall be 2% of property taxes including
penalties and interest.
2. The land Fund shall be an Interest bearing account. We heard testimony that the Finance
department does this anyway, but unless it is in the legislation this is not a requirement.
3. Land Fund monies shall be used for acquisition only and not for development or maintenance of
properties.
4. To protect the lands purchased by taxpayers money, we must have a clause to protect these lands
from being resold. This clause that shall run with the land and be recorded as part of the Deed on
all past and future purchases "This property was purchased with monies from the Public Access,
Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. It shall be held in perpetuity for the use
and enjoyment of the people of Hawai'i County. This land may not be sold, mortgaged, traded or
transferred in any way." This is necessary because the State sells off conservation land in the
regular course of business, which's to say that the county won't start selling land to balance their
budgets. A good case in point is the sale of the Hamakua Sugar lands.
Mahalo-
Debbie Hecht
Campaign Coordinator, Save our Lands Citizen's Committee
Debbie Hecht
P.O. Box 4148
Kailua -Kona, HI 96745
4/19/2010
PI Cowen
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Comm. No.
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(808) 989-3222
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