HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0817.061 2008-2010Murashige, Laura (ES. 3 -IQ /tL»1. NO. 817
From: Inge Juchtzer [ingeute @aol.com]
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 2:39 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Proposed Budget & Tax Rate Increase Witness Testimony
ear Ma Kenoi,
5/17/2010
(010 IlR? 1? P19 3 "3
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ouI
Page 1 of 2
Pi Co u w act
Like man folks, I have been activel emplo all of m adult life until 2009. More than a
y ear ago foreign investors in the compan !helped to found and administrate chose to take the
compan private and "restructure" due to our declining (J5 econom Since that time !have been
unemplo and I'm certain 1 am not alone in this experience. As insult to injur the 5tate's
decision to withhold income tax returns this y ear to save mone on "paper" might be a logical excuse
from their standpoint, but m return was not onl filed electronicall 1 re m refund
electronicall as well —go figure. Add it all up and 1 believe y ou can expect this common and long
used response to proposing an increase in taxes, "You can't get blood from a turnip." What
reasonable explanation do y ou have for proposing a tax increase when so many contributing
members of the community have experienced a substantial decrease in income?
became a certified paralegal at 1 8 yrs old, purchased m first home at 25 and built m dream
home at 35 yrs old here in Kona. volunteer m time each y ear to cancer benefits and Ironman
because I care about the people here in the islands. ! m on the investment and
reinvestment of m mone time and energ into this communit In fact, man of m neighbors
thanked me for building a beautiful, island - complementing home, a soothing koi pond and a sizable
vegetable garden, which helped to increase their propert values substantiall 5o, y ou can
understand how shocked 1 was to receive a bill for more than $5,400 in due propert taxes for the
first y ear following the completion of m home located on just 1 acre of A land! but, I'm `turnip -
tough'! 1 cracked down and tightened m budget pa m taxes on time and in full. how do you
expect to attract and maintain functioning, contributing and caring members of this community if y ou
continue to increase financial burdens?
I won't re an explanation of the logic behind the spending of so man of our tax dollars
on a variet of projects and their associated maintenance and repairs. but, certainl you don't
expect us to ignore the unjustified amount of time it has taken to accomplish even the simplest of
improvements. 1 lived and worked throughout California much of na life, so J didn'tj fall off a
turnip truck. have a prett good idea of how q uickl y some things can be accomplished when
Cori .
Ref. Tot
Ref. D n ►n1 n 7 2010 _
Signed,
Nothing personal against turnips.
5/17/2010
Page 2 of 2
necessar (unfortunately, have been repeatedl reminded of the distribution of our tax
dollars b man frustrated members of Kailua Kona. "Kona side pa more, while Hilo side
benefits more". 5o, 1 would like a detailed explanation of the distribution of funds and the reasoning
behind such logic, as 1 am sure we all would prior to even considering an tax increase.
Proposing a tax increase in our nationwide current economic condition is not onl trul
ridiculous it is irresponsible. And sends a clear message that it makes more sense to force struggling
families from their homes than it does to re- evaluate, negotiate and budget accordingly when it
comes to the spending of our tax dollars. 5kouldn't y ou be setting the example y ou expect us all to
follow?
While 1 believe 1 have presented valid 9uestions, on the forefront of all of our minds is our
irregular income. We are finding avenues to live with it in the hopes we don't actually end up living on
avenues and expect that anyone employed with our tax dollars should do the same. besides, if y ou
make this environment intolerable, y ou'll be left with nothing but turnips.