HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0817.076 2008-2010Yoshimoto, J
6/3/2010
From: Tom Kell [tomk1949 @yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 1:33 AM
ee6 , 330-1al Novi. 817
U JUN 3 Nip 10
To: dyagong @co.hawaii.hi.us; dikeda @co.hawaii.hi.us; jyoshimoto@co.hawaii.hius;
donishi @co.hawaii.hi.us; enaeole @co.hawaii.hi.us; genrique eR.4) waii ; hi.0 ; bford @co.hawaii.hi.us;
kgreenwell @co.hawaii.hi.us; phoffmann @co.hawaii.hi.us; cohmayora co.hawaii.h'i.us
Subject: Tax increase
To the County Council Members and the Mayor,
My name is Tom Kell and I own a condo in the Waikoloa Beach Resort. We bought 2 years ago and so
enjoy the 2 to 3 months we spend on our beautiful island. I am also the President of our Association.
One of our owners called and asked if I had heard about the proposed tax increase. No, I had not. Bill
and Susie Nee then did their home work and sent the following to me as a summary of why this should
not pass:
Non -owner occupied property taxes for next year are slated to increase by 29.19% in dollar
amounts, but approximately 39% in real terms based on the revised assessment values.
Some tax classifications actually have a reduced rate for the upcoming budget (I.e. Hotels and
Resorts have a decrease of 15.78 %)
Page 1 of 2
1. This is taxation without representation since we can't vote for the elected officials.
2. The county is killing the goose that is laying the golden egg for tourism in
the county.
3. They are harming vacation rental properties and second homeowners who
are currently struggling with reduced property valuations, reduced rents and
less tourists to occupy our properties.
4. Hotel and Resort taxes are being reduced because they employee local
people, however, those of us who rent our units also employee cleaners,
property managers, and rental managers and other service personnel.
5. The GET tax has already been increased the last two years.
6. We already pay a higher tax rate than residents.
7. This tax increase will undoubtedly increase foreclosures, short sales and
distressed property sales, which will reduce property values even further and
put more stress on HOA's.
8. Individual owners are being hurt while corporations (hotels) are being
favored.
9. The magnitude of this increase is causing harm to individuals who use less
county services than full time residents.
10. One of the Mayor's stated goals is to provide "stability for our local
economy," however, with more foreclosures leading to reduced property
values and less vacation rentals, this will affect the real estate market,
tourism and eventually harm the job market for local residents.
11. This information was never given to non - resident homeowners who
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Page 2 of 2
currently pay 29% of the property tax revenue.
This entire tax increase is very disturbing and needs to be vetoed and looked at very
closely. I do understand our island needs tax funds to operate. But has the County
done everything it can to cut costs and tighten their collective budgets? And
everyone is in the same "boat ", so why do we just pick on the off island condo
owners? We do bring may additional dollars to the county and employee
thousands of workers.
I feel I can speak for the 111 owners of the Waikoloa Beach Villas and state non of us
want this type of increase. Right now we have close to $130,000 in delinquent
dues and 4 or more condos either in foreclosure or listed as a short sale.
PLEASE RECONSIDER AND VETO THIS TAX BILL.
Thanks you.
Tom and Pam Kell
Unit N -1 at Waikoloa Beach Villas
cell: 715.829.1330 home: 715.723.0539 fax: 715.723.5093
6/3/2010