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Murashige, Laura
From: BERT WAGATSUMA [b.wagatsuma @yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 3:40 PM
To: Counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Bill 29
Attachments: Bill29Testimony.pdf
See attached testimony against Bill 29. Thank you.
Comm No. /// • G 2 •
Ref. To: Atli G
5/17/2011 Ref. DoteXAY 1 R 71111
Bert A Way tsuma Member:
Certified Public Accountant Hawaii Society of
(A Limited Liability Company) Certified Public Accountants
May 16, 2011
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, HI
RE: Bill 29, Draft 2, Comm. 111.8, Memo 5 and Comm. 111.10
Dear Council Members:
I am writing to oppose the cancellation of the golf course subsidy of $ 315,666.
l
As a golfer who !plays at least twice monthly for the past 20 years, I noticed since the last raise in green fees,
the play on Sun ay's have diminished significantly as there are not as many cars in the parking lot. I know
there are counc I members who could care less about the golfing public, however, for us who have lived all our
lives here in Hilo, the municipal golf course is like an institution.
Not knowing wtpat the subsidy includes, if it is for west Hawaii as well as the Hilo Municipal, then it seems
reasonable as vest Hawaii has no municipal golf course. I believe, raising the Hilo fees any further without
any significant improvements, will decrease play even further, which will have a negative impact on revenues.
With the fairly recent hiring of a greens keeper who knows what he is doing is a significant improvement to
the course.
I suppose the gtiestion then becomes, how do we raise more revenue? I believe raising the green fees over
time to a maximum $25.00 would be ok, however, there will need to be visible improvements to the course to
justify the fees. If the county could re -do the clubhouse and expand it so they could charge a restaurant
vendor higher fees, equipment retailer higher rent, etc. that might work. The old adage, "needing to spend
money to make money".
I am hoping that the subsidy stays in place, and there is no 100% or so increase in green fees.
Sincerely,
/ ( -■1416._
: ert M. W.
o ilaM
688 Kinoole St; Suite 211 *Kilo, Hawaii 96720 *Phone(808)935 - 9731 *Fax(808)935 -0059