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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0111.063 2010-2012 Page 1 of 1 P/CowJcLL Murashige, Laura - C�o. kW. 5 From: Jerel I. Yamamoto [jerel @noyhawaii.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 9:08 AM . To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Cc: Jerel @noyhawaii.com ;t Subject: Bill 29, Draft 2, Comm. 111.8; Comm. 111.10 Attachments: council testimony.0511.doc Attached please find public testimony for the council meeting on May 18. This is being submitted in my personal capacity and not for any client. JEREL I. YAMAMOTO Attorney at Law NAKAMOTO, OKAMOTO & YAMAMOTO 187 Kapiolani Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Telephone: 808 - 961 -0641 Fax: 808 - 935 -3872 Email: jerel @noyhawaii.com CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and may be protected by legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure or use of this e-mail or any attachment is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately and delete this copy from your system. IRS CIRCULAR 230 DISCLOSURE: Any tax advice herein is not written to be used for the purpose of avoiding any penalties asserted under the Internal Revenue Code. If the foregoing contains Federal tax advice and is distributed to a person other than the addressee, such person is not entitled to rely on such advice and should seek advice from an independent tax advisor. C014111. No. if /. G Ref. _etc,, 5/17/2011 fief. De 8 2011 TESTIMONY OF JEREL I. YAMAMOTO 5/18/11 Meeting of the County Council MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL: I am submitting testimony on Bill 29, Draft 2, Communications 111.8, Memo 5 and Communication 111.10 and am strongly opposing the proposed amendment to the budget which seeks to cut a $315,666 transfer of funds from the general fund to supplement the golf course operating budget. The Council is being short sighted, discriminatory and is penalizing golfers by deleting the fund transfer. The fund transfer is to cover operation shortfalls that are not covered by the fees generated by use of the course. The Council is taking the easy way out and focusing in only on the golf course shortfall. The Council needs to take a comprehensive review of all programs and not just a piecemeal approach. This budget amendment targets the golf course and its users. Yet, there are other park facilities that charge little or no fees and yet there are no budget adjustments to their line items. Operationally, each of these facilities lose money as any fees generated do not cover the operational and maintenance expenses of these facilities. Golfers are being singled out and being asked to shoulder their own burden. If the Council is making such a requirement of golfers, then it should require it of all facility users of the County of Hawaii. All ball park users, all soccer field users, all tennis courts, all beach parks, all pools, all pavilion users, all those who use the Civic, Aunty Sally's, all County gyms should help to pay to make these facilities more self sufficient. Fair is fair. Golfers are willing to cover their share of expenses but all other facility users should bear the same type of burden. Your budget machete will adversely affect junior golfers, university and high school golfers. You will be taking away an activity for our youth which helps to teach them commitment, dedication, concentration and other life skills because it will be too expensive and cost prohibitive. The youth will have other things to do which will not be constructive or productive. Because of the accessibility to moderately priced courses, Hilo and the Big Island has been able to develop many junior golfers who have been able to compete statewide and nationally. Their skills bring honor and goodwill to the Island of Hawaii. Current examples are Brittany Yada, Valarie Kitamori, Ciera Min and countless others who compete collegiately or in mainland tournaments. If UH Hilo were not able to use the Hilo Municipal for reasonable rates to practice, the team would not be to develop its skills, win and be able to represent us at the NCAA Division II National Championships. This budget cut will also adversely affect senior citizens who use golf as a reasonably priced social and recreational endeavor, especially when they are on fixed incomes. Another casualty of your budget cutting actions will be many non - profits who use golf tournaments as fundraisers. It will be too expensive to host a tournament at the Muni. Significant increases in fees will adversely affect these non - profits as either the funds generated will be reduced (tournament costs too high) or they will look to other activities to raise money. Lack of use means less revenue for the course. If the golf course increases its rates to cover its operational expenses, there is no guarantee that the level of play (number of paying players) will continue. Rate increases will not cover the budget shortfall if there are less paying customers to the course. There was a time that the golf course was in terrible condition. The greens were in poor condition; the fairways were muddy swamps and it took too long to play a round at the muni. Today, things have gotten a lot better. Programs have been instituted by the current management team where the greens are in really good condition and those of us who play the course are really proud of them. The fairways are in decent shape and it is now a challenge to play the Hilo Muni. I am proud to play the Muni. It is a worthwhile public facility. Your budget cutting will probably result in the course deteriorating again. Are there things that could change? Sure. Should rates increase? Probably. Let the administration come up with a reasonable and well thought out plan on how to address some of the budgetary shortfall. Don't just chop because it is the politically convenient thing to do. Thank you.